News

It is with great sadness that we share in the news of the passing of Norman Lear, a legendary producer, writer, and activist who inspired generations with his groundbreaking shows and his social justice advocacy.

Youth Represent’s City Dreamers Advocacy Camp Class of 2022-2023 is underway and ushering in a new cohort of “dreamers” who are gearing up to stand up, speak up, and start advocating for change in their communities.

Youth Represent is pleased to announce that Mai Brand has joined its board of directors. Mai brings more than a decade of experience in executing fundraising initiatives for nonprofits with a focus on strategic partnership building, foundation and corporate grants, and philanthropic event planning. 

Tziona Breitbart, Esq. (Staff Attorney), Alex Cohen-Price, LMSW (Social Worker), Hayley Craig (Paralegal), Aaliyah Guillory-Nickens (Campaign Organizer), and Simratpal “Simmi” Kaur, Esq. (Staff Attorney)!

Leonard Noisette, Esq., a lifelong advocate for public defense, human rights, and criminal and juvenile legal systems reform, has joined Youth Represent’s Board of Directors.

Youth Represent is pleased to announce that Jason C. Spears. Esq. has joined our Board of Directors.

Organizations call on lawmakers to embrace a public health approach to gun violence; resist rollbacks to landmark Raise the Age law; Invest in communities of color, and promote the leadership of youth directly impacted by the legal system

We’re saying NO to the Giving Tuesday madness and YES to the spirit of community. Rather than asking you to donate to Youth Represent on “Giving Tuesday,” we will be supporting, highlighting, and uplifting other nonprofit organizations that Youth Represent staff love and want to “Pass the Giving.”

Welcome Shomari Ward, Youth Represent’s new Litigation Director.  Shomari’s role includes advancing Youth Represent’s strategic impact litigation work; advising on how to proceed on matters where clients are in need of legal consultation; and supervising members of the legal team. In addition, he monitors Youth Represent’s impact litigation to ensure they are moving in the direction most helpful for clients. 

Welcome Dorothy Summers, a new staff attorney here at Youth Represent! Her role involves assisting and supporting justice-involved youth in matters and issues related to family court, criminal law, housing and discrimination cases. 

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Allowing Youth Tried as Adults Second Chance to Seal Records

November 4, 2021. On Tuesday, Governor Hochul signed S.282 (Myrie) / A.6769 (Hyndman), legislation providing people who were eligible for youthful offender (YO) status but denied in the past a new opportunity to apply for it. The measure is an important extension of the 2017 “Raise the Age” law.

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, hires thousands of new workers across the U.S. each year. But according to a lawsuit recently filed by Youth Represent & Outten & Golden LLP, the retail giant also rejects many qualified applicants because of their criminal histories –

Since 2010, Youth Represent has prided itself on its outstanding partnership with more than 16 organizations and agencies across New York City. In fact, our partnerships — which range from workforce development, alternative-to-incarceration to LGTBQ youth and health — are the cornerstone of our community-lawyering model to help us reach and assist our criminal system involved youth clients.

We want to welcome our newest member to the team, Ying Yu Situ. Starting on June 1, Ying began working as a Paralegal at Youth Represent, assisting our Staff Attorneys and reporting to Supervising Attorney Dale Ventura.  

As a client-centered legal organization that serves predominantly youth of color, we refuse to undermine the importance of committing to fight against racism. In this pivotal moment of racial reckoning within America, we stand in solidarity with our AAPI and Black communities who are relentlessly fighting for our country to recognize that their lives matter.

For many Youth Represent clients, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn created new financial emergencies. 

We repeatedly heard from clients during the pandemic that unemployment, job closures, and lockdowns, not only disrupted their lives, but also kept them from having money to pay for emergency needs, like food, housing, child care, commuting, health care, and utility bills. 

Youth Represent is excited to welcome Jeanne Byrd Adams and Ayirini Fonseca-Sabune as our two newest members of our Board of Directors.

June 10, 2021.  The New York State Senate and Assembly have passed S.282 (Myrie) / A.6769 (Hyndman), legislation providing people who were eligible for youthful offender (YO) status but denied in the past a new opportunity to apply for it.  The measure is an important extension of the 2017 “Raise the Age” law. 

Like all of you, our work at Youth Represent has been disrupted by the global pandemic, quarantine, and shutdowns. Not only did our New York City offices close abruptly last year, but so did the many different support systems that our clients rely on.

We are thrilled to highlight two recent legislative victories, both of which have implications for young people in New York State. Youth Represent is proud to have supported the HALT Solitary and Start SMART New York campaigns, both of which centered grassroots organizing and racial justice to win transformative changes to the criminal legal system in our state.

Youth Represent’s mission is to help young people leave their…