Who We Are
It takes a village. So we built one that’s nationwide.
The movement to end youth incarceration is made up of people of all ages and backgrounds, guided by the experiences & leadership of young people impacted by the prison system.
Our mission begins with our principles. It ends when all youth are free.
We believe locking kids up is wrong, period. Not because young people don’t mess up, but because when they do, they deserve the opportunity to heal, find their place in community and be held accountable to those they’ve caused harm. That’s why our first principle is ‘Abolition for all.’
From there, we’re committed to prioritizing decarceration, ending oppressive systems to invest in communities and building transformative alternatives to prison. These principles guide our work and our demands.
State campaigns, led by youth voices, have redirected $50M where it’s most needed.
By connecting state and local campaigns, Youth First cultivates a unified movement, which is vital for reaching a nationwide tipping point. So far, our Partners have closed four youth facilities, with plans to shutter seven more.
Meet our State Partners and members
The No Kids in Prison Manifesto
Our team, Partners and supporters share the conviction that every kid is capable of change, regardless of their mistakes. We want to see resources reallocated to the places where young people live. To understand more about what unites us, start with our Manifesto.
Key achievements
“We all want to be liberated, together.”
Dozens of young people gathered in Philadelphia for the 2024 Grassroots Assembly. Watch this short recap of the event to see our movement in action.
Youth First Justice Collaborative’s 2024 Grassroots Assembly
Our Team
Youth First Justice Collaborative is led by a team deeply committed to ending youth incarceration.
Michaela Pommells
(she/her)
Executive Director
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Iliana Pujols
(she/her)
Director of Youth Organizing and Leadership
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Susan Wilcox
(she/her)
Consultant, Learning and Evaluation
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Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board is made up of experienced organizers, founders and abolitionists who pass on their knowledge to a new generation.
Mishi Faruqee
(she/her)
Director of Andrus Family Fund (AFF)
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Beatriz Beckford
(she/her)
National Director, Youth & Family Justice at MomsRising
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Jordyn Wilson
(she/her)
Director of Community Engagement at The Connecticut Justice Alliance
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Abd’allah Lateef
(he/his)
Co-Deputy Director of the Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth
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Pamela Fong
(she/her)
LA State Partner
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Desmond Bryant White
(he/his)
Program Manager and Lead Organizer for Progeny a Youth Justice program of Destination Innovation
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Our Partners are the engine driving our movement forward.
By drawing on the expertise of those working in the intersecting fields of abolition, community power building, arts and culture, civic policy and more, we offer State Partners an array of services to strengthen their organizing efforts.
Learn more about how we work
