Avenues for Justice Celebrates 45 Years of Second Chances at Our Annual Gala and Awards Dinner

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On October 24th, Avenues for Justice (AFJ) will commemorate “45 Years of Second Chances” at our annual Gala and Awards Dinner. This special evening highlights the incredible strides our Participants have made and honors those working to reform the criminal justice system.

Each year, Avenues for Justice looks to honor one of our Participants who have shown outstanding progress to change their life, as well as leaders in the criminal justice space committed to driving systemic change. This year’s event will celebrate Malik Rainey, a proud graduate of AFJ’s program; honoree Darleen Agar, a criminal justice advocate and Vice President at Goldman Sachs; and corporate honoree, Rothschild & Co. We are also excited to welcome six-time Emmy Award-winning PIX11 correspondent, Monica Morales, who will moderate a panel discussion on the current state of criminal justice in New York City with Darleen Agar.

“The Second Chance Gala not only celebrates our Participants and their incredible growth, but also serves as a vital source of support for AFJ---providing nearly 15% of our annual operating budget. The gala gives us the chance to share our mission and impact with the broader community, while recognizing the community leaders who champion our work.” ~ Liz Frederick, AFJ’s Executive Director.

This year’s Second Chance Award Honoree, Malik Rainey, embodies the power of a second chance. Arrested at 17 and facing a potential prison sentence of 3 to 15 years, Malik’s life took a pivotal turn thanks to New York’s “Raise the Age” law and AFJ’s Court Advocacy program. After being introduced to AFJ Manager of Court Advocacy, Brian Stanley, he began his transformative journey utilizing our court advocacy and wraparound services. He re-enrolled in school, earned his High School Equivalency (HSE), and obtained both his OSHA-30 certification, security guard license through our HIRE Up services, and just recently welcomed a baby girl.

Celebrating Leaders in Criminal Justice Advocacy and Reform

In addition to celebrating the young men and women making strides towards second chances, AFJ also looks to honor those in the criminal justice space who are actively looking to change the way our systems work. Over the course of her 39-year career at Goldman Sachs, Darleen Agar – this year’s Honoree – has been responsible for developing client relationships and driving client engagement at the national level. Her criminal justice advocacy has been focused on visiting prisons around the country and raising awareness about the plight of our nation’s incarcerated population and returning citizens. This year’s Corporate Honoree, Rothschild & Co, is a leading global financial services group with a values-driven culture, championing education, skills and talents to help young people reach their full potential.

45 Years of Impact: AFJ’s Legacy Documentary Premiere

As we celebrate 45 years of transforming the lives of New York City’s youth, we are thrilled to announce the premiere of our legacy documentary. Produced in partnership with LaJoy Plans, it captures the rich history of AFJ and the incredible legacy of co-founders Angel Rodriguez and the late Robert Siegal. Featuring interviews with AFJ staff, board, supporters, and longtime allies, the documentary will debut at the gala on October 24th. An official public screening will follow on Thursday, November 14th at Stuart Cinemas, a Black woman-owned theater in Brooklyn that proudly partners with AFJ as part of our HIRE Up job readiness program for our Participants.

This year’s Second Chance Gala promises to be a momentous occasion, celebrating both AFJ’s remarkable history and the bright future ahead. We look forward to sharing this special night with our community of supporters and hope to see you there!

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