Justice for DC Youth History
JDCY advocates for a fair and more effective juvenile justice system in the District of Columbia. Our mission is to shift the city's priorities from incarceration to education. As our name implies, JDCY's target population is DC youth - particularly those who are disproportionately affected by crime and the criminal justice system.Detailed below is a timeline of our accomplishments over the years:
2000
In August of 2000, Mayor Anthony Williams establishes the District of Columbia Blue Ribbon Commission on Youth Safety and Juvenile Justice Reform ("BRC") to investigate the state of youth crime in the district, the effectiveness of the rehabilitative services and programs that were in place, and to make recommendations for reform.
2001
As the Blue Ribbon Commission began holding meetings, a small group of individuals began to attend these BRC meetings and from those initial meetings, the Justice 4 DC Youth! Coalition (JDCY) is formed. JDCY advocates against the transfer of more youth to adult court, for the closure of Oak Hill and redirection of resources to community-based alternatives to incarceration.
Throughout 2001, JDCY manages the "Close Oak Hill" campaign to encourage community members to weigh in on the BRC's deliberation and push for the closure of Oak Hill as one of the key recommendations of the BRC.
In November, the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission issues its final report that includes many of JDCY's key recommendations such as closing Oak Hill, replacing it with a smaller facility, redirecting resources to community-based alternatives to incarceration, and reducing the transfer of youth to adult court by proposing that all juvenile transfers be through judicial waiver.
2002
As there was no real response from Mayor Williams to the BRC recommendations issued in November of 2001, the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission issues the report again and holds a press conference with Mayor Williams. Unfortunately, Mayor Williams makes no public endorsement of the recommendations. At the press conference, the Mayor announces an "implementation" committee which met once and ultimately disappeared from public view.
Later that month, on February 26, JDCY hosts a film screening and organizing event at the Public Welfare Foundation, with a standing room only 300+ crowd!
2003
JDCY launches a series of direct actions to garner public attention to the conditions at Oak Hill by hosting "Un-Happy" Jerry M. birthday party events throughout the city. Jerry M. is an infamous lawsuit filed against the District in 1986 over the conditions of confinement for children at Oak Hill. JDCY's direct action events culminate in a press conference & birthday card delivery on the steps of the Wilson Building, home to the DC Council and the Mayor's Office.
On October 7, Mayor Williams, Councilmembers Kevin Chavous and Jim Graham introduce punitive, anti-youth legislation to transfer more youth to adult court, fine parents if their youth were adjudicated delinquent and to remove youth and families from public housing. Both bills ignore the recommendations from the Mayor's own Blue Ribbon Commission Report.
In November, JDCY launches a massive organizing effort to stop punitive legislation, including hosting a citywide faith breakfast to engage faith community in campaign efforts. On December 10, JDCY hosts the first-ever "Youth Justice Advocacy Day" at the Wilson Building to publicly launch "Stop the War on DC Youth" campaign, led by the city's youth. Concerned about the effect this legislation would have on youth rehabilitation, Councilmember Adrian Fenty contacts local advocates and asks for more information on transfer. Local advocates present him with the Blue Ribbon Commission Report of 2000. Based on these findings, he introduces the Blue Ribbon Act, which would codify the major recommendations of the commission's report, including the closure of the Oak Hill Youth Center; its replacement by a smaller facility, and a redirection of resources to more community-based alternatives to incarceration. JDCY works with then Councilmember Fenty to draft BRC alternative reform bill.
2004
JDCY organizes hundreds of youth and adults to attend and speak out at DC Council hearings in January and March. In addition, JDCY organizes 40+ organization letters to support the Fenty bill.
In May, JDCY launches a postcard campaign with Critical Resistance DC to garner support for the Fenty proposal.
In June, Councilmembers Brazil and Catania introduce more punitive bills that include mandatory minimums for youth. In response, JDCY coordinates phone call & email campaign to stop these bills.
In July, the DC City Council Judiciary Committee votes out of Committee a compromise Omnibus bill, including key provisions from Council member Fenty's Blue Ribbon Act, and deletes provisions to make the transfer of youth easier!
During the summer, JDCY launches the summer youth political education institute, FIRE (Freedom Involves a Revolutionary Education).
In October- November, JDCY sends out "Educate Don't Incarcerate" wristbands, delivers an organizational sign on letter in support of the legislation and organizes DC City Council visits to push for final passage of the bill.
On November 9, DC City Council unanimously approves the Omnibus Juvenile Justice Act of 2004, which includes provisions to close Oak Hill & redirect resources to community based alternatives to incarceration; in separate legislation, the Council also establishes a new Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to replace the Youth Services Administration (YSA) that will report directly to the Mayor.
On November 29, Mayor Williams, who never supported the legislation, signs the Omnibus Juvenile Justice Act into law. This legislation is a milestone in the District's movement towards a rehabilitation-focused juvenile justice system.
2005
In January, Mayor Williams hires Vinny Schiraldi to run the newly formed Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, and Marc Schindler becomes General Counsel, both of whom were founding members of JDCY.
During the summer, JDCY launches the second year of FIRE. In the fall, JDCY launches a nine month, intensive youth organizing fellowship for 4 graduates for the Teach Justice! FIRE training.
In September, JDCY co-hosts a fundraising event raising $3,000 for programs serving incarcerated youth in Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
In October, JDCY launches a nine month, intensive youth organizing fellowship for 4 graduates for the Teach Justice! FIRE training;
Throughout 2005, JDCY attends, testifies and/or submits written testimony at several hearings (May, June, July, and November) on the status of closing Oak Hill, and the conditions of confinement at the Oak Hill Facility.
2006
In April, JDCY worked with DYRS to organize community members to participate in a service project at Oak Hill, "Spring Makeover Day", where 75 community volunteers worked throughout the day to beautify the campus for the youth.
In July, JDCY hosts the first-ever Mayoral candidate forum at Oak Hill with 7 of the 13 mayoral candidates attending - including future Mayor Adrian Fenty -- and compiles a "Voter's Guide on Juvenile Justice" with responses from 2 of the leading candidates for Mayor.
In July, Mayor Williams introduced "Emergency Crime Legislation" that includes more cops, youth curfews, and would result in incarceration of more youth. In response, JDCY relaunches the "Stop the War on DC Youth" (SWOY) campaign, holds a press conference on the steps of the DC Council building and makes the rounds to council members' offices.
Throughout the summer, JDCY implements FIRE youth organizing program that reaches over 35 youth.
In August, JDCY organizes a citywide rally, conducts press outreach and hosts a rally with SWOY wristbands, tee-shirts and flyers.
In September, DC City Council approves emergency crime legislation.
In November, Adrian Fenty is elected Mayor, the only member of the DC Council to vote against the emergency crime legislation.
2007
JDCY initiates a pilot program called the "Prison to College" Pipeline project (P2C) at Oak Hill. The program collaborates with students and staff from the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) to provide mentoring, leadership development skills and political education to incarcerated youth.
In May, JDCY graduates its final class of youth fellows.
In July, JDCY hosts "Check the Rhyme," its first annual summer community fundraising event. The evening features a progressive hip hop concert, live performance painting, an art auction and a film screening.
Due to the success of the pilot program, the first full year long iteration of the P2C program is launched in September.
2008
From January-May JDCY organizes a series of political education workshops for youth at the Evening Reporting Center. This work is done in collaboration with the Visions to Peace project.
JDCY organizes a standing room only panel discussion and film screening entitled "Bridging the Gap Between Incarcerated and Collegiate Youth" on the UMCP campus in April 2008. In August, JDCY hosts an arts activism showcase at Busboys and Poets to raise funds for the organization.
JDCY testifies before the DC City Council in support of the reform effort in February. We also deliver testimony about race and the juvenile justice system to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Race, Racism, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances during his fact finding mission to the United States in June.
In September, JDCY launches the 3rd full year of P2C program. The program has now reached 100 youth and 65 volunteers. Our volunteers are primarily African-American student leaders involved in campus organizations that focus on socio-political issues facing communities of color.
2009
January-May, JDCY staff and advisory board engage in a strategic planning process. We decide to reflect the structural changes to the organization in by changing the name from "Justice 4 DC Youth! Coalition" to "Justice for DC Youth."
JDCY continues its support of the reform effort with DC City Council members, testifying in March and June.
In April JDCY organizes a talent showcase on the UMCP campus that attracts dozens of young people. We also hold our second annual forum on community based alternatives to incarceration that features an array of experts from the juvenile justice community.
On May 29th, Oak Hill closes! This historic closure signals the end of a failed experiment on children in our nation's capitol. In its place, we now have the New Beginnings Youth Development Center- a smaller, state of the art facility designed to positively impact the lives of troubled youth as they prepare for their eventual transition back into our community. This is a major victory for JDCY and the other community based organizations that fought for its closure.
On June 17th, JDCY hosted "The Blue Party" at Hamiltonian Gallery to celebrate the closure of Oak Hill and raise funds for continued juvenile justice reform advocacy efforts. The organization also celebrated the launch of our fully redesigned website, www.jdcy.org, and the opening of our new satellite office at New Beginnings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a youth advocacy organization will have an office inside a correctional facility.
In August, JDCY re-launched the Freedom Involves a Revolutionary Education (FIRE) program. Housed in Southeast DC, this program was a pilot examination of what it would mean to work with youth who were receiving services in the community.
In September, the Prison to College Pipeline recruits a new corps of 25 volunteers to launch the fourth academic year of the program.
In October and November, JDCY co-hosts a city wide strategy meeting and report back session on juvenile justice reform.
2010
In January JDCY conducts a series of peer exchanges with several similarly aligned groups to share best practices.
March 10th JDCY hosts “An Evening With Iyanla Vanzant,” a fundraiser that showcased the New York Times Best Selling Author. In addition, the program featured performance poetry from our student volunteers and heartfelt speeches from three of the youth who inspire our work.
On May 3rd the Prison to College Pipeline successfully concludes its fourth academic year of arts activism workshops and political education with the youth at New Beginnings. In its fifth academic year, the Pipeline will transition to a youth led program.
In July, the non profit arm of Justice for DC Youth concludes its work. The Prison to College Pipeline transitions to a youth led program under the stewardship of our collegiate chapter.
JDCY Vision
Our vision is to help build and sustain a political climate in DC that is youth friendly. We are seeking to enhance the quality of life for our young people and their families by ensuring that they have access to a fair and equitable juvenile justice system, as well as quality services- education, employment, aftercare, mental health, etc. We believe that it is our responsibility to educate, mobilize and organize our youth to serve as key constituents in our fight for justice.JDCY Director
Shani Jamila O'Neal
Shani is the Director of Justice for DC Youth (JDCY), a community based non profit that fights for a fair and more effective juvenile justice system in the District of Columbia. In this capacity she coordinates the Prison to College Pipeline, a program designed to support the education and empowerment of incarcerated teens. In addition, she serves on the Advisory Board of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.
Cultural activism is the core of Shani's work. Prior to joining JDCY, she designed and directed The Art of Activism - a seminar series based at Howard University that utilized art to educate young people about organizing for progressive social change. An incisive essayist and editor, her writings on race, gender, diaspora and culture have been published in several collections and incorporated into university curricula. On Tuesday evenings her voice may be heard on the Pacifica Radio network (WPFW 89.3FM), as the host of the progressive hip hop strip Decipher.
Shani is a Fulbright Fellow and proud Spelman graduate, who has a Masters degree in Africana Cultural Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. She also received certification from the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Her work has received international recognition in publications such as the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, the London based literary magazine Sable, and ESSENCE - as "One of the 35 Most Remarkable Women in the World" (May 2005).
JDCY Advisory Board
Ditra EdwardsDitra is the Director of Training at the Praxis Project. As director of Training and Youth Development at LISTEN, Ditra was responsible for the design and implementation of the Global Exchange Program which supported the youth activist from the United States and their counterparts in other countries to learn about leadership and democracy. Ditra was also the catalyst for the content and framework of the organization's leadership and youth development curriculum. At LISTEN, Ditra also helped incubate Youth Education Alliance (YEA), a DC based youth organizing group fighting for equality education in DC Public Schools. YEA has recently transitioned into and independence organization. Finally, during her tenure at LISTEN, Ditra help to co-create the national network of youth workers and organizers called Building Leadership Organizing Communities (BLOC).
Prior to LISTEN, Ditra served as Senior Program Director for Community Programs at the YMCA of Greater Boston. During her tenure at the YMCA, she helped to found and direct the nationally recognized Youth Workers Alliance of Boston. In addition, she was responsible for the vision and direction of the Greater Boston YMCA Youth development Center. As a facilitator for the Academy of Educational Development's (AED) National Youth Workers Training Institute, Ditra is certified to deliver professional development for youth workers in all areas and disciplines.
Ditra has severed on the board of the Funders Collaborative on Youth Organizing, and presently serves on the Columbia Heights Shaw family Support Collaborative and Emory Beacon of Light Community Development Corporation board of directors. Ditra was the recipient of the Salzburg Seminar Fellowship, Session 366 on Urban Youth and the Smithsonian Institute, Museum Leadership Award
Johonna McCants
Johonna McCants is an arts activist, educator, and community organizer. Johonna served as a co-producer and camera operator of the independent music film, Second Thought. She is an advisory board member of Justice for D.C. Youth, board member of the Blackout Arts Collective, and a member of Incite! Women of Color Against Violence. The recipient of a 2007 Soros Justice Fellowship, Johonna recently launched the Visions to Peace Project, an arts and organizing initiative that engages D.C. youth in creating community-based solutions to violence against youth. She is also pursuing a PhD in American Studies at the University of Maryland.
Marcy Mistrett
Marcy Mistrett has worked in youth development in the District for nearly twenty years. Most recently, she founded and directed the D.C. office of the Posse Foundation, a college success and youth leadership program that has sent nearly 200 D.C. area students to elite colleges on scholarships where they are persisting at a rate of 90%. Prior to Posse, Marcy worked nationally and locally in violence prevention and juvenile justice reform. This includes being appointed to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group from 2002-2006. She has been active with JDCY since its inception and has been a member of the Steering Committee since 2003. Marcy earned her B.A. from American University and her A.M. from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.
James Pearlstein
James is the founder and Executive Director of a youth-led community organizing group named DC Youth Power Network (YPN). Prior to YPN, James co-founded an organization based in the Barry Farm neighborhood of Southeast Washington, DC named Facilitating Leadership in Youth (FLY), where he worked for nearly 10 years. While at FLY, James started the popular Breakin' for Birney b-boy/b-girl fundraiser event, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2009. James has participated in a wide range of intensive community organizing trainings through the National Youth Organizers Training Institute, Midwest Academy, and the Industrial Areas Foundation. He is a graduate of American University, and swears that in high school he once dunked a ball on a regulation height basketball hoop.
Liz Ryan
Elizabeth P. (Liz) Ryan is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Campaign for Youth Justice. Liz has 20 years of advocacy campaign experience. Prior to starting the Campaign for Youth Justice, Ms. Ryan served for five years as the Advocacy Director for the Youth Law Center's Building Blocks for Youth Initiative, a project to reduce the over-incarceration and disparate treatment of children of color in the juvenile justice system. Her work at the Youth Law Center involved campaign advocacy assistance at the national, state and local levels to stop punitive juvenile justice legislation, redirect funding to communities, and increase involvement of the constituencies that were most affected by juvenile justice decision-making.
Ms. Ryan previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper during his terms as Delaware's Governor and member of the US House of Representatives. She also served as a lobbyist for the Children's Defense Fund, and is a former VISTA volunteer. She currently serves on the Advisory Committee of the Justice for DC Youth. Ms. Ryan holds a BA from Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA) and an MA from The George Washington University (Washington, DC).
Jonathan Stith
I believe real education leads to liberation and young people change the world because they still believe in its promise. These two thoughts are what push me to come to work every morning. I have been a youth worker / organizer for about 10 years. Before I came aboard Youth Education Alliance, I jumped in the game at Community IMPACT! I started as an AmeriCorps*VISTA coordinating youth service programs and eventually became the North East Youth Organizer. From there, I was the first Director of the DC Youth Advisory Council. When I am not riding for YEA, I am an advisory board member of Justice for DC Youth.
Since working at YEA, the one lesson I have learned is a movement is only as good as its organizers. I read that in the autobiography of Kwame Toure. It's true. A house is a reflection of the architect. I am oversimplifying but you get the point. Where is Jonathan going? Besides crazy, I don't know. But I do know once justice is achieved in the world, I will retire to operate a ferry in a Caribbean island, where I will spin tall tales to tourists over fat beats. Hip-Hop is definitely the soundtrack of my life. I love just about anything from Dead Prez but you can catch my ear with anything with a dope beat and a message.