After a nationwide, values-driven selection process, we are thrilled to announce that Iliana Pujols will join the Youth First Justice Collaborative as our Director of Youth Organizing and Leadership!
Iliana joins the Youth First Justice Collaborative by way of the Connecticut Justice Alliance (CTJA), where for seven years, she played a crucial role in founding and developing the Justice Advisors, a youth-adult partnership for young leaders who have first or second-hand experience with the legal system and a passion for making change. In addition to playing a critical role in recruiting, training, and supporting the Justice Advisors, Iliana has also organized for youth justice regionally and nationally with the Youth First Initiative’s Youth Leaders Network, Public Allies Connecticut, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation Youth Advisory Council.
Over the next year, Iliana will bring her expertise in organizing and advocacy to the Youth First Justice Collaborative by working with a diverse cohort of directly impacted youth across multiple states in our network. She will help us to build on the legacy of Youth First’s work by training youth organizers and building collective power, especially with youth most impacted by incarceration. By embarking on a journey of shared learning with the YFJC network, Iliana hopes to build the organizing and leadership capacity of as many young leaders as possible.
“I look to bring a new level of support and creativity to the youth organizing and leadership aspect of the Youth First Justice Collaborative,” said Iliana Pujols. “My goal is to take the legacy of Youth First and continue to build on that – work with young people in ways that serve their personal and professional growth. I want to embark on a journey of shared learning with the YFJC network with hopes to build the organizing and leadership capacity of as many young leaders as possible. Ultimately, I want to continue to build the YF legacy along Michaela and the state partners in ways we wouldn’t have imagined five years ago.”
As we continue to expand our team, we are actively looking for a Communications Strategy + Narrative Director. This position will play a crucial role in assisting state campaigns to effectively articulate and advocate for the end of youth incarceration and will assist with opportunities for communications and messaging at the national level. A full job description for this position can be found here or by emailing jobs@youthfirstjusticecollaborative.org
We are thrilled to have Iliana on board, and we look forward to the impact she will make on our mission towards a future with no kids in prison.
