CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE FOR EQUALITY & JUSTICE
Our grant of $25,000 supports the Restorative Youth Diversion program, which is offered to youth under the age of 17 as an alternative to the juvenile justice system. CCEJ is a human relations organization dedicated to eliminating bias, bigotry and racism through education, conflict resolution and advocacy. CCEJ works to increase unity between people in our communities by: building connections between people from diverse backgrounds, healing conflict, and building skills for social justice advocacy. CCEJ is also one of the leaders in the movement to reduce mass incarceration in Los Angeles County, which disproportionately impacts youth from Black and brown communities. Our grant will serve approximately 120 youth up to age 17. Youth are referred by the district attorney, and CCEJ provides intensive case management for the youth, their families, the victims and their families. They work with the youth to understand the reasons for their harmful actions and the negative impact they have caused, and to make a plan for future success and to be accountable to the people they harmed. The centerpiece of the program is the “circle” in which the youth meet the people they harmed, with the presence of family, to take accountability and to meet the needs of the person they harmed. After successfully completion of the program, the case is closed and the youth can move ahead with their lives.