Here’s To Avenues for Justice’s Momentous Year of Providing Services To A Record 650 Participants In 2024!

‍Avenues for Justice (AFJ) is wrapping up our 45-year celebration where we served Participants from 43 of NYC’s 51 City Council Districts, and provided second chances to 650 young people, between the ages of 13 and 24. Founded in 1979, AFJ was originally named the Andrew Glover Youth Program (AGYP) to honor NYPD Police Officer Andrew Glover who was tragically killed in the line of duty. Officer Glover, who patrolled the Lower East Side, dedicated his time to engaging local youth with after-school activities. Created by Co-Founders and Lower East Side residents, Angel Rodriguez, and the late Robert (Bob) Siegal, AFJ has worked tirelessly to reduce recidivism rates among NYC’s youth and young adults. Today, we remember the legacies of Officer Glover, Bob Siegal, and founding board member David O. Smith, by providing court advocacy and wraparound services in all five boroughs.

Working deeply within NYC’s criminal justice system for over 50 years, Angel leaves behind his vision for community, compassion, and commitment to better the lives of young people. This year alone, Angel was honored with the 2024 Leadership Prize from the Juvenile Law Center in May and received the 2024 Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Award two weeks ago. Also honored with a proclamation from Assembly Member Harvey Epstein at the beginning of December, Angel was recognized by District 74 for providing Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) services to youth in the Lower East Side. With his official retirement set for the end of this month, AFJ will be led by now-former COO turned Executive Director, Elizabeth “Liz” Frederick.

"I am motivated by the enormous potential for AFJ to push the boundaries of justice reform by offering real solutions—solutions rooted in education, employment, mental health care, and mentorship. My vision for AFJ is grounded in ensuring that the organization's programs remain responsive to the needs of our Participants, while staying ahead of the evolving landscape of criminal justice. As I look ahead to 2025 and prepare for what’s next, we will need the support of institutional partners and allies to ensure that we don’t return to outdated, strictly punitive consequences for our young New Yorkers.” -AFJ’s Executive Director, Liz Frederick

In addition to the success of AFJ’s job readiness and workforce development program, HIRE Up, which hosted 27 workshops attended by 491 Participants in 2024 alone, AFJ also celebrated three cohorts of our paid internship program this year. Launched in April 2023 to provide hands-on job experience, we have successfully worked with 63 Participants who gained valuable work-life experience. Partnering with minority-owned businesses across NYC--such as Happy Cork, BKLYN BLEND, Stuart Cinema, St. Mark’s Yoga, and more--our program supports Participants on their continued journey to success.

Along with job training, we had the opportunity to partner with The Belafonte Family Foundation offering a 5-week “Food For Thought” cooking class; host legendary rapper, Jim Jones for AFJ’s first “Hip Hop Therapy” workshop; and welcomed City Councilmember and Exonerated Five member, Dr. Yusef Salaam at our Harlem community center.

With 2024 all about celebrating the past 45 years, AFJ created a legacy documentary called An Avenue Named Justice: 45 Years of Second Chances, which has been featured on Fox5 NY’s "Good Day Street Talk”, along with NY1 News. The documentary explores what happens when a group commits to and fights for second chances and justice for all. The documentary features interviews from AFJ staff and board members, along with public officials and allies--- including the Honorable (ret.) Judge Michael Corriero; New York Community Trust Program Officer, Roderick Jenkins, and Robin Hood Foundation’s CEO, Richard (Rich) Buery. Produced by Melva LaJoy Legrand of LaJoy Plans, the documentary premiered at AFJ’s annual Second Chance Gala on October 24th, and the official screening took place at HIRE Up partner, Stuart Cinema on November 14th.

As Avenues for Justice looks to 2025, our goal is to continue to reach more court-involved youth and at-risk young people across all five New York City boroughs.

With a 94% success rate of Participants avoiding reconviction after 3 years in AFJ’s program, our team looks to go deeper in our impact for 2025 with the services we know Participants need. With the legacies of Angel and Bob rooted in the now 16-person team, Avenues for Justice will continue to provide second chances to those committed to building a better future for themselves for years to come.

‍

‍