Avenues for Justice
100 Centre Street, Room 1541
New York, NY 10013
info@avenuesforjustice.org
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At Avenues for Justice (AFJ), Justice In Action doesn't end with the staff. The movement thrives in the next generation of leaders: a growing board of 26 professionals, under 40, fondly known as the JBoard, who bring energy, creativity, and a deep commitment to increasing membership by activating their networks.
This week, we're spotlighting AFJ’s Junior Board Co-Chairs, Jefferey Huang and Winston Smith. In the past two years, they have cultivated a board of strong fundraisers and engaged community advocates who advance AFJ's mission, gain governance experience, and build meaningful connections with like-minded peers. The JBoard creates an accessible entry point for NYC’s young professionals to get involved, whether through fundraising events, volunteer opportunities, lunch-and-learns, or deeper engagement with AFJ through community center events or career workshops.
Hailing from Southern California, Jefferey (Jeff) moved to NYC in 2021 to pursue a career in Management Consulting. He later pivoted to work with state governments and adjacent organizations on healthcare and social services access. When Jeff first learned about diversion programs, he was working on a consulting project to better support justice-involved Ohioans facing uphill legal, financial, and medical issues. Jeff worked to pair these folks up with programmatic support, but this work was limited by capacity. After leaving the position, Jeff turned to his network and found AFJ through an old co-worker who had previously served on the JBoard.
Jeff immediately found the mission to be directly aligned with work he was hoping to do and was impressed by the team’s commitment to providing, “the wrap-around service all with one person, one advocate invested in each young person. AFJ Participants, often making a wrong decision in their childhood, are at their greatest time of need. The dedication to support and consistency AFJ staff has shown enables truly life-changing outcomes for both Participants and for local NYC communities, in a win-win for the city’s moral and financial health.
After going to court with AFJ’s Co-Founder Angel Rodriguez, attending JBoard fundraisers and AFJ galas, Jeff was drawn to become a Co-Chair because of the JBoard’s ability to be successful in adverse conditions. Jeff looks forward to his continued work to engage more businesses into AFJ’s HIRE Up program through connections via employers, friends and family, and cold outreach.
“I’m so grateful for the Junior Board as an opportunity to learn from Angel, Liz, and the rest of the AFJ staff who do all the amazing work that I’m so proud to support. I get so excited when other friends of mine or someone else on the JBoard reaches out to learn more, and I’m glad we have so many roles that can both directly support programming, funding, or simply awareness about AFJ. AFJ is an organization that uniquely supports bi-partisan goals. It makes the city more efficient financially, it makes our communities safer, and most importantly, it provides critical support for our youth. If you ever have the chance to visit the AFJ center or see the work they do in the courthouse, you’ll see or hear stories of just how amazing each of the staff members at AFJ are.”
Outside of work and the JBoard, you can find Jeff either training for a track meet, learning how to sew, or digging through crates for new records.
A native Rhode Islander, Winston moved to New York City during COVID thinking that he would only be here for a short stint, but like so many of us, fell in love with the energy and excitement of the big city. During his undergraduate years at Georgetown University, Winston learned about the university’s commitment to social justice through an on-campus organization called the Prisons and Justice Initiative (PJI). PJI’s mission focuses on empowering current and formerly incarcerated people through education, employment assistance, and court advocacy.
When he later moved to NYC, Winston sought ways to engage with his local community, and through Robin Hood's young professionals placement program, he was introduced to AFJ. He was drawn to the organization’s tangible impact on young children, remarking that “when the system fails our children, AFJ shows up at the most pivotal points in their lives. Their approach to mentorship, advocacy, and creating opportunities helps shape the next generation to be custodians of their community, instead of letting young mistakes dictate their life trajectory. AFJ provides the best alternative to incarceration for youth.”
Over the past three years, Winston’s involvement has grown from being a contributing member of the JBoard to serving as its Co-Chair, where he has been focused on growing the board’s presence and the impact it has on the communities AFJ serves. On pace to increase membership by 25%, a record membership year, Winston has been instrumental in centering fundraising efforts around two events each year: one in the spring and one in the fall. Winston has tasked the JBoard’s event committees with executing on a fundraising goal while also providing a fun and engaging experience to network and spread the mission of AFJ.
Beyond fundraising, Winston is focused on strengthening engagement and increasing the support Junior Board members can provide AFJ Participants. This vision includes creating more opportunities for dialogue and building stronger relationships with AFJ’s Participants through workshops and court advocacy work. An avid runner and philanthropist, Winston has turned his love of the NYC Marathon into a vehicle for social change, raising money for three different charity bibs, with the hope of one day adding AFJ to that roster.
“I am proud of the JBoard’s comeback. COVID was a difficult time for many in the city. Maintaining connection without in-person events was difficult. All flowers due to our previous Junior Board Chair, Alex Ehat, who guided us through that transitory phase and helped us emerge as a strong, more cohesive board. I am lucky to have inherited the success of his efforts, and I am proud to lead such a passionate and talented group of young professionals. I am most proud of every board member’s commitment to AFJ and for the time and energy they devote with enthusiasm to help spread the AFJ mission. I’d be remiss not to mention the incredible support the JBoard receives from both Liz Frederick and Wes Muench, who collectively bring the same passion as the AFJ co-founders. The JBoard is incredibly grateful for their time, guidance, and wisdom, and is proud to be supporting Liz as she leads AFJ into its next chapter.”
Under their leadership, the Junior Board has grown into a genuine force for AFJ, onboarding six members and counting in the past year. The Junior Board’s fundraising events throughout the year range from game nights to happy hour socials with silent auctions, and have brought together more than 200 young professionals since the pandemic. Junior Board members also participate in AFJ’s HIRE Up program, facilitating career workshops and bringing their professional networks directly into the lives of AFJ's Participants.
In the months ahead, Jeff and Winston would like to deepen engagement between the Junior Board and AFJ Participants, and bring more local businesses into AFJ's HIRE Up internship placement program. Their vision is clear: leverage fundraising by activating the community. Winston notes how the “passion of AFJ's employees is contagious and can be traced back to the unwavering dedication of its two founders, Robert Siegel and Angel Rodriguez. Both have made a lasting impact on NYC youth, and supporting AFJ helps pave a brighter future for the next generation."
If you are a young professional looking to join the Junior Board, please reach out to Wes Muench at wmuench@avenuesforjustice.org. Additionally, stay tuned for upcoming Junior Board fundraising and community events, which will be announced in the coming months!
