By Dieter Cantu (Leading with Conviction™ 2020):
October. The month I was sentenced to 10 years as a child. My first (and only) arrest. A kid facing the weight of the system without understanding his rights.
My story is not unique. It’s a tragic reality faced by countless young people, especially Black and Brown youth, who are often pushed into a system that doesn’t recognize their humanity, let alone their potential. Every child deserves an opportunity to change, to grow, and to reclaim their future. We cannot allow the failures of the system to become the permanent story of our youth.
For Youth Justice Action Month, let this be a call to action.
For Youth Justice Action Month, let this be a call to action. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that children are treated with fairness, dignity, and compassion. We must be the ones who show up for them when the system fails. We must be the advocates they need when they’re too young to know how to advocate for themselves. We must do better, because justice for our youth is justice for all of us.
No child is born to be a statistic, and no child’s life should be written off due to a lack of resources, guidance, or opportunity. They are our future, and it is our duty to ensure that they have a future worth fighting for.
In October, we don’t just raise awareness. We raise our voices. We demand that the system gives our youth the second chance they deserve.
(Photos from Dieter Cantu, used by permission)
In our 10th anniversary year, JustLeadershipUSA’s work of educating, elevating, and empowering justice-impacted leaders continues and is growing even stronger!
We are preparing for our very special 10th anniversary gala in New York City on October 21st, and we would love for you to be there with us.
This is going to be a very special time to look back on the past decade of JLUSA’s important work, the 1,600+ leaders we have helped get to the next level in their work, and even more importantly, we will look ahead to the next 10 years and beyond!
We can’t do this without you. We need your support to help us continue to do this work now and into the future. By purchasing a $50 streaming ticket, you are saying to the amazing leaders in our network who represent the 70+ million Americans who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, “I see you, and I support you!”
Please plan now to join us in person or give a one-time $100 gift or set up a recurring $10 monthly donation to celebrate JLUSA’s 10th anniversary year, and together we will build a fair and just U.S. Thank you!
Mail that includes checks only:
JUSTLEADERSHIPUSA, INC
P.O. Box 23681
New York, NY 10087-3681
All other mail:
P.O. Box 1730, New York, NY 10037
347.454.2195
© 2024 JustLeadershipUSA. All Rights Reserved.
JustLeadershipUSA is a non-partisan organization. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to the individual author or speaker, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the organization.
