When I first met her as a panel member on a Youth Justice Committee she would hardly speak. She kept her eyes down, her posture tight, and her answers short. You could feel how little trust she had in the adults around her. And honestly, given what she had been through, I understood why. Yes, she had made a mistake. Hearing her story, someone might even feel her mistake was an honest mistake—but the consequences she faced were far harsher than what most young people would ever have to shoulder. She was frightened, frustrated, and felt very much alone. You could feel the fear behind her silence. The sense that she was not sure anyone was there to help.
Sitting with her on her final day with us, hearing her speak about her journey with us, I saw firsthand the impact of this program—not in numbers or reports, but in a living, breathing human being who had found a bit of hope again. She was dealt a rough hand, and yet she met it with resilience that honestly inspired me.
Seeing her share her story—openly, bravely, and with a spark I had not seen before—was the clearest proof that this program works. You literally watch young lives turn a corner.
Watching this young woman rise above everything stacked against her made something hit deeper for me. These committees are made up of regular people from our very own communities (someone just like you or me). I have seen how they meet these youths with compassion instead of judgment. CYJS’ volunteers help these youths get back up rather than let them fall.
I volunteer because I care about youth. But I am also a dad. I have three grown daughters, and I am profoundly grateful programs like this exist. Why? Because if my girls had made a similar, honest mistake in their earlier years, I would want them to be met with compassion, guidance, and real second chances—not judgment or isolation.
She taught me more than I ever expected when I signed up as a volunteer. She reminded me why this work matters. And every time I think of her, I think of the light she found—and the light she carries forward. That is exactly what your financial support makes possible. Donors don’t just fund a program. You fund moments like hers—moments where a young person realizes they are not defined by their worst day, and that a whole community believes in their future.
Thank you for making transformations like hers possible. You are changing lives, one young person at a time.
– B.T, Youth Justice Committee Volunteer
Your gift today helps CYJS continue this vital work — creating moments that matter, building connections that last, and giving hope where it’s needed most.
