Meet Avenues for Justice’s 2025 Impact Awards Angel Rodriguez Award Recipient: Program Graduate Katherine Estrella

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Katherine (Kat) was your typical, hard-working young person trying to make a better life for herself and her family. Growing up in the Bronx, in a three-bedroom apartment with her mother, aunt, and nine siblings, things were not easy. Her household was loving, but it was not without its challenges. Oftentimes, money was tight, and space was limited, making it nearly impossible to find solitude. And with so many different personalities under one roof, it was easy to be overlooked.

Kat’s first language was Spanish, so the language barrier with her classmates made her a target for bullying. To support Kat, her elementary school placed her in a special education class, where she received one-on-one attention. This dynamic proved to be a game changer as it helped her come out of her shell and excel in her schoolwork. That was until high school. Without the individualized support she had previously received, Kat began withdrawing academically and socially. But, recognizing her potential, her high school guidance counselor and mentor, Mr. Jim, encouraged her to take on a job assisting the principal.

After graduating from high school in 2018, Kat landed a job at a fashion design company. After only a few months, Kat decided to resign as she felt that the role was not a fit. When she went to pick up her last check, she realized that she could continue to clock in through her phone even though she was no longer working. The company’s system would automatically confirm her hours. Believing it to be the company’s error, Kat continued logging her hours for eight months until the detectives arrived at her family’s apartment with a warrant for her arrest. At 19, Kat was arrested and charged as an adult for Grand Larceny in the Third Degree. She was faced with a potential seven-year prison sentence.

Unfamiliar with the criminal justice system, Kat felt overwhelmed at her first court appearance. She approached two friendly faces in the courtroom who just happened to be from Avenues for Justice (AFJ). Over the next 18 months, AFJ’s Co-Founder and former Executive Director, Angel Rodriguez, helped negotiate a plea to reduce Kat’s charges from a felony to a misdemeanor if she met the court’s mandate.

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Kat found a safe haven at AFJ’s Harlem community center. Not only did she show up daily, but she actively participated in workshops including Legal Rights & Responsibilities, Teen Empowerment, Art Therapy, and cooking classes. Kat flourished as a role model for the younger Participants. AFJ’s Manager of Court Advocacy, Brian Stanley, played a significant role in helping Kat establish long-term goals. Kat looked at Brian as a continuation of the mentorship she had received in high school from Mr. Jim. Kat’s favorite engagement at AFJ was with Wide Rainbow—a monthly art series that connected Participants with citywide artists and museums.

In February 2020, Kat’s continued positive court reports resulted in the judge reducing her sentence to a misdemeanor charge of Petit Larceny. After paying a court fee, Kat no longer faced the threat of a criminal record affecting her employment or housing opportunities. The following month, she was slated to begin her internship with Wide Rainbow and had committed to volunteering weekly with the Self-Help by Older Persons Project (SHOPP), the Women’s Prison Association (WPA), and the Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement. However, all her plans came to a screeching halt with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dealing with family tragedies and without the support of the Harlem Center, it was hard for Kat to participate in AFJ’s virtual workshops.

When in-person programming resumed in 2023, though she was no longer mandated to AFJ, Kat was ready to reengage. With support from AFJ Court Advocate, Elsie Flores, and AFJ’s Job Developer, Shantel Brooks, Kat began working on polishing up her job readiness skills. In the fall of 2023, Kat was one of the first Participants to get hired as part of AFJ’s 8-week paid internship program. Working at Sankofa Haus, an event space in the Bronx, Kat made such a great impression that she was asked to return in 2024. As part of her third AFJ internship placement, Kat worked as a marketing assistant at ONErpm Records, where she learned new tech skills. She was subsequently hired as a cashier for one of AFJ’s partners, The Nourish Spot, at the US Open.

From the moment I first met Kat in 2023, I knew she was serious about her goals and dedicated to her growth! Not only is she ambitious, considerate, calm, and courageous, what stands out most about Kat is her positivity and open-mindedness,” says AFJ Job Developer, Shantel Brooks. "Her clear motivation and drive to better herself and create a better future, propelled her to excel through four internship cohorts, and helped shape her vision for the kind of office role she aspires to hold in the future. Using her self-motivation to help achieve some of her greatest goals – like having her own apartment – has been truly inspiring. I am confident that she will continue to glow, grow, and accomplish everything she sets her mind to."

In just two years, Kat completed four internships in different industries, gaining invaluable work experience. At the end of 2024, Kat moved into her own apartment and finally had a space to call her own. Kat is currently enrolled in John Jay College’s Pre-College Program, with plans to major in business. We are proud to honor Kat as this year’s Angel Rodriguez Award recipient—formerly known as the Second Chance Award—at AFJ’s Impact Awards on October 23rd. Her unwavering resilience, determination, and optimism in the face of adversity embodies the spirit of AFJ and our mission to build a more just future for New York City’s next generation.

“In the five years that I have known Kat, I have had the pleasure to watch her go from a know-it-all teenager to an independent young woman. Kat is growing and learning to make better decisions confidently. She has a beautiful future ahead of her.” –Elsie Flores, AFJ Court Advocate

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