A Commitment to Optimism
A Commitment to Optimism
A Commitment to Optimism
The biggest, boldest solutions become real when we choose to believe in them.
The biggest, boldest solutions become real when we choose to believe in them.
The biggest, boldest solutions become real when we choose to believe in them.
California Justice Leaders
California Justice Leaders
California Justice Leaders
Mobilizing formerly incarcerated young people to redefine their roles as leaders in their communities for the next generation and beyond.
Mobilizing formerly incarcerated young people to redefine their roles as leaders in their communities for the next generation and beyond.
Mobilizing formerly incarcerated young people to redefine their roles as leaders in their communities for the next generation and beyond.
200+
200+
200+
re-entry Navigators trained
re-entry Navigators trained
re-entry Navigators trained
30+
30+
30+
community-based organization site partners
community-based organization site partners
community-based organization site partners
500+
500+
500+
system-impacted young adults supported
system-impacted young adults supported
system-impacted young adults supported
A groundbreaking AmeriCorps program recruiting people because of their life experiences, not in spite of them.
A groundbreaking AmeriCorps program recruiting people because of their life experiences, not in spite of them.
Contact with the criminal justice system is a barrier to employment and other opportunities for personal growth and professional development.
For the past five years, California Justice Leaders, through its partnership with AmeriCorps and California Volunteers, has worked to shift the narrative by enlisting formerly incarcerated young people as mentors and reentry coaches for justice-involved youth. The program provides training and development for Members to build leadership skills, amplify their stories, and strengthen their communities.
Contact with the criminal justice system is a barrier to employment and other opportunities for personal growth and professional development.
For the past five years, California Justice Leaders, through its partnership with AmeriCorps and California Volunteers, has worked to shift the narrative by enlisting formerly incarcerated young people as mentors and reentry coaches for justice-involved youth. The program provides training and development for Members to build leadership skills, amplify their stories, and strengthen their communities.
“I want kids, teenagers and young adults to know that no one can dictate our value, no one can label us and tell us we are not good enough. I am a walking impression of defying the odds against me.”
“I want kids, teenagers and young adults to know that no one can dictate our value, no one can label us and tell us we are not good enough. I am a walking impression of defying the odds against me.”
“I want kids, teenagers and young adults to know that no one can dictate our value, no one can label us and tell us we are not good enough. I am a walking impression of defying the odds against me.”
– Yesennia, California Justice Leader
– Yesennia, California Justice Leader
– Yesennia, California Justice Leader
Today, our California Justice Leaders have served at more than 30 community-based organizations and public offices across the state. Many have gone on to secure employment in justice reform and reentry work — including several roles at Impact Justice.
Today, our California Justice Leaders have served at more than 30 community-based organizations and public offices across the state. Many have gone on to secure employment in justice reform and reentry work — including several roles at Impact Justice.
Today, our California Justice Leaders have served at more than 30 community-based organizations and public offices across the state. Many have gone on to secure employment in justice reform and reentry work — including several roles at Impact Justice.
California Justice Leaders is proof that when you invest in people because of their life experiences, not in spite of them, you unlock the boldest solutions.
California Justice Leaders is proof that when you invest in people because of their life experiences, not in spite of them, you unlock the boldest solutions.
California Justice Leaders is proof that when you invest in people because of their life experiences, not in spite of them, you unlock the boldest solutions.
Poised to become a national model, the California Justice Leaders program has established a best-practice framework that trains Members as credible messengers and mentors, guiding these new leaders through a year or more of service at organizations across California.
Poised to become a national model, the California Justice Leaders program has established a best-practice framework that trains Members as credible messengers and mentors, guiding these new leaders through a year or more of service at organizations across California.
Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice
Pioneering restorative justice alternatives to prosecution and punishment.
Pioneering restorative justice alternatives to prosecution and punishment.
Pioneering restorative justice alternatives to prosecution and punishment.
90%
90%
90%
satisfaction for survivors that participate in community
conferences
satisfaction for survivors that participate in community
conferences
satisfaction for survivors that participate in community
conferences
1,000+
1,000+
1,000+
restorative justice cases supported
restorative justice cases supported
restorative justice cases supported
4,000+
4,000+
4,000+
young people engaged in restorative justice alternatives
young people engaged in restorative justice alternatives
young people engaged in restorative justice alternatives
Leading the country in the use of restorative justice to meet the needs of survivors and break cycles of harm.
Leading the country in the use of restorative justice to meet the needs of survivors and break cycles of harm.
For eight years, the Restorative Justice Project at Impact Justice developed models focused on diverting young people of color from prosecution in serious cases. Restorative justice models have been associated with significantly lower levels of recidivism, and are often far more satisfying to survivors of harm than traditional criminal justice models.
For eight years, the Restorative Justice Project at Impact Justice developed models focused on diverting young people of color from prosecution in serious cases. Restorative justice models have been associated with significantly lower levels of recidivism, and are often far more satisfying to survivors of harm than traditional criminal justice models.
For eight years, the Restorative Justice Project at Impact Justice developed models focused on diverting young people of color from prosecution in serious cases. Restorative justice models have been associated with significantly lower levels of recidivism, and are often far more satisfying to survivors of harm than traditional criminal justice models.
“It’s such a step forward…to recognize that we have to figure out how to make people both better on the one hand — that is, people who do bad things — but also, how to restore people back who were victims.”
“It’s such a step forward…to recognize that we have to figure out how to make people both better on the one hand — that is, people who do bad things — but also, how to restore people back who were victims.”
– Hon. Calvin Johnson, Retired Judge, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
– Hon. Calvin Johnson, Retired Judge, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
– Hon. Calvin Johnson, Retired Judge, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court
The initial pilot project in Alameda County — initially developed by sujatha, and still active under the leadership of Community Works — laid the foundation for Impact Justice to successfully seed this model in roughly a dozen cities around the country. In 2023, the program’s success and growing scope allowed us to spin it off as a separate initiative.
The initial pilot project in Alameda County — initially developed by sujatha, and still active under the leadership of Community Works — laid the foundation for Impact Justice to successfully seed this model in roughly a dozen cities around the country. In 2023, the program’s success and growing scope allowed us to spin it off as a separate initiative.
Set in motion and led by sujatha baliga — who later earned a MacArthur “Genius Grant” for her work — this groundbreaking effort redefined the traditional criminal justice paradigm, and was unique in working closely with crime survivors and equipping community-based organizations to divert high-level misdemeanor and felony cases to restorative justice alternatives.
Set in motion and led by sujatha baliga — who later earned a MacArthur “Genius Grant” for her work — this groundbreaking effort redefined the traditional criminal justice paradigm, and was unique in working closely with crime survivors and equipping community-based organizations to divert high-level misdemeanor and felony cases to restorative justice alternatives.
Food in Prison
Food in Prison
Food in Prison
Bringing the movement for food justice and dignity inside jails and prisons.
Bringing the movement for food justice and dignity inside jails and prisons.
Bringing the movement for food justice and dignity inside jails and prisons.
72,000+
72,000+
72,000+
incarcerated people reached with fresh produce in CA
incarcerated people reached with fresh produce in CA
incarcerated people reached with fresh produce in CA
29
29
29
prisons and jails reached with innovative new models to improve nutrition
prisons and jails reached with innovative new models to improve nutrition
prisons and jails reached with innovative new models to improve nutrition
19
19
19
small, sustainable farms connected with new markets for their produce
small, sustainable farms connected with new markets for their produce
small, sustainable farms connected with new markets for their produce
Food is a fundamental part of the human experience. That shouldn’t change because someone is incarcerated.
Food is a fundamental part of the human experience. That shouldn’t change because someone is incarcerated.
Prisons across the U.S. are facing a hidden food crisis that affects millions. Hunger and malnutrition coexist with widespread food waste and devastating health outcomes, deepening inequities in communities already burdened by incarceration and poverty.
Prisons across the U.S. are facing a hidden food crisis that affects millions. Hunger and malnutrition coexist with widespread food waste and devastating health outcomes, deepening inequities in communities already burdened by incarceration and poverty.
In 2020, our breakthrough report Eating Behind Bars: Ending the Hidden Punishment of Food in Prison sparked national conversation about the poor quality of food in prison and its consequences, and launched work on multiple fronts to expand access to fresh, healthy food in our nations’ jails and prisons.
In 2020, our breakthrough report Eating Behind Bars: Ending the Hidden Punishment of Food in Prison sparked national conversation about the poor quality of food in prison and its consequences, and launched work on multiple fronts to expand access to fresh, healthy food in our nations’ jails and prisons.
Since then, we’ve worked with small farms across California to supply tens of thousands of pounds of locally-grown fruits and vegetables to prisons all over the state through Harvest of the Month, and we’ve trained system-impacted leaders to lead nutrition education workshops in their own communities. In Maine, we’ve developed a Chefs in Prison model to embed professional chefs in prison kitchens to overhaul menus and train staff. And in Washington DC, we’ve expanded the scope of our work to encompass jails — where the quality of food is often even worse in state and federal prisons.
Since then, we’ve worked with small farms across California to supply tens of thousands of pounds of locally-grown fruits and vegetables to prisons all over the state through Harvest of the Month, and we’ve trained system-impacted leaders to lead nutrition education workshops in their own communities. In Maine, we’ve developed a Chefs in Prison model to embed professional chefs in prison kitchens to overhaul menus and train staff. And in Washington DC, we’ve expanded the scope of our work to encompass jails — where the quality of food is often even worse in state and federal prisons.
Now, we’re thrilled to be expanding Eating Behind Bars: Ending the Hidden Punishment of Food in Prison with a new publication in book form.
Now, we’re thrilled to be expanding Eating Behind Bars: Ending the Hidden Punishment of Food in Prison with a new publication in book form.
This landmark book digs even deeper into America’s hidden “food deserts,” where hunger and malnourishment coexist with shocking levels of food waste and devastating health outcomes. At once an examination of our nation’s most overlooked food system and a determined portrait of what it will take to transform it, Eating Behind Bars explores what might be possible when we bring everyone to the table.
This landmark book digs even deeper into America’s hidden “food deserts,” where hunger and malnourishment coexist with shocking levels of food waste and devastating health outcomes. At once an examination of our nation’s most overlooked food system and a determined portrait of what it will take to transform it, Eating Behind Bars explores what might be possible when we bring everyone to the table.
This landmark book digs even deeper into America’s hidden “food deserts,” where hunger and malnourishment coexist with shocking levels of food waste and devastating health outcomes. At once an examination of our nation’s most overlooked food system and a determined portrait of what it will take to transform it, Eating Behind Bars explores what might be possible when we bring everyone to the table.
“This eye-opening book will convince you that everyone — absolutely everyone — is deserving of nourishing food that affirms their humanity and dignity.”
“This eye-opening book will convince you that everyone — absolutely everyone — is deserving of nourishing food that affirms their humanity and dignity.”
– Jose Andrés, Chef and Humanitarian
– Jose Andrés, Chef and Humanitarian
– Jose Andrés, Chef and Humanitarian
