Meet Avenues for Justice’s 2026 Impact Awards Angel Rodriguez Award Recipient: Program Graduate Jily Bonilla

Some people wait for an opportunity to find them. Jily has always been the kind of person who rises up to meet opportunities.

Growing up in the Bronx, Jily shared a small apartment with her family, sleeping on the couch for much of her childhood. Despite the challenges of economic hardship and adjusting to life in a new country, she excelled in school. She found purpose on the basketball court, where she developed the discipline and determination that would continue to shape her future. During gym class in ninth grade, she suffered a serious knee injury that left her isolated and disconnected from both school and the community she had built through sports. Struggling to regain her footing, she experienced a difficult period where she began to lose sight of the goals she had once set for herself.

In the summer of 2023, at age 17, Jily found herself in a situation that resulted in her being mandated to participate in the Family Court Diversion program. She was then referred to Avenues for Justice’s Manager of Court Advocacy, Brian Stanley, to complete eight sessions with AFJ.

On August 14th, 2023, at the age of 17, Jily got in a car with her friends. Unbeknownst to her, the car she had entered was stolen. They were pulled over and all of them were arrested and charged with Misapplication of Property, a form of theft where someone entrusts you with their property, but you illegally dispose of it or refuse to return it as agreed. Had she been 18 and older, she would have been facing a year of jailtime. Since this was her first arrest and she was a minor, her case was brought to the Family Court Diversion program where she was referred to Avenues for Justice’s Manager of Court Advocacy Brian Stanley to complete eight sessions with AFJ.

About a month after her referral, she received a call from AFJ Manager of Court Advocacy Brian Stanley. She almost did not go. She thought she was in trouble again. But when she walked into AFJ's Harlem Community Center, she found something she had not expected: support, opportunity, and a community that believed in her potential.

Although she was only required to complete eight sessions, Jily quickly realized that AFJ offered more than a mandate, it offered possibility. She completed her court obligation within the first few weeks and her case was dismissed; but Jily continued showing up. She immersed herself in AFJ’s HIRE Up workshops, developed new skills, and took advantage of every opportunity available to her.

Over the next two years, Jily emerged as one of AFJ's most engaged and dedicated Participants. She completed more than 80 workshops, covering leadership, mental health, legal rights, personal development, and workforce readiness. She served on AFJ's Leadership Council, earned OSHA-30, Site Safety, Flagger, and Security certifications, and developed a reputation among staff and peers for her consistency, maturity, and determination.

Brian says Jily is, "truly the type of person that this organization is designed to help." From the beginning, he saw a young person who was responsible, eager to learn, and appreciative of every opportunity AFJ offered. He often points to her maturity as one of her defining qualities, describing it as rare among young people her age.

The AFJ Team often describes Jily as thoughtful, dependable, and remarkably self-motivated. Early on, she set a goal of saving $1,000 using only the gift card incentives she earned through participation in the HIRE Up program, something Brian had never seen a Participant accomplish before. Last summer, she proudly showed him her bank account. She had done it!

Her commitment to growth extended beyond the workshop room. Through AFJ's HIRE Up workforce development program, Jily discovered a passion for professional development and entrepreneurship.

She completed multiple internships with Braided, a Brooklyn-based hair salon, where her strong work ethic and attention to detail left such a positive impression that she was invited back three separate times, including through NYC's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Together, those experiences amounted to nearly seven months of hands-on learning. By her third internship, AFJ Job Developer Shantel Brooks worked with Jily's school to ensure the experience counted toward academic credit, helping accelerate her path to graduation.

Jily also gained valuable experience working at the US Open through an AFJ employment opportunity with The Nourish Spot. That experience helped prepare her for her current role at Juice Press in Manhattan, a job she secured through persistence, networking, and initiative. With support from Shantel, she updated her resume, connected with a teacher, and sent a cold email that ultimately opened the door.

Throughout it all, Jily routinely traveled across New York City, from the Bronx to Brooklyn, Harlem, Queens, and Manhattan. She never let distance, inconvenience, or circumstance stand in the way of her goals. Shantel often points to that determination when describing Jily's journey. As she puts it, "she wanted to graduate, and she did it. She wanted a job, and she got several." In Shantel's view, all Jily needed was an opportunity, and she was always going to make the most of it.

In June 2025, Jily walked across the stage at her high school graduation. She had worried she would be alone in the crowd. Instead, the AFJ team was there, cheering for her. The day before, she had come to the Harlem community center to decorate her cap with Harlem Court Advocate Stephanie, who had become her people. It was one of the most memorable days of her life.

Jily's dream now is to open her own business and employ her family. In her own words: "One of my dreams is to open up a business, someplace where I can employ my loved ones. The people I know are so smart, they are so capable. If they just got an opportunity, they could achieve so much."

When it was pointed out that she was essentially describing the AFJ model, an organization built on giving others a chance, she didn't miss a beat.

"Yes, that's exactly right. I'm inspired to give opportunities to others, the way AFJ did for me."

It is a fitting reflection for this award. Jily didn't just receive an opportunity; she turned it into a foundation for what comes next and is already thinking about how to create opportunities for others.

Through her perseverance, work ethic, leadership, and unwavering commitment to growth, Jily embodies the spirit of the Angel Rodriguez Award.

We are proud to honor Jily as the 2026 Angel Rodriguez Award Recipient. Join us at our 2026 Impact Awards Dinner on October 14th as we celebrate Jily!