March for Our Lives: Crowd of New Yorkers hold signs at Saturday gun control protest.

New York Must Stick to Ending Violence by Committing to Close to Home Program

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As one of the millions of people across the country and around the world who participated in March for Our Lives events this past weekend, I felt that I was standing on the precipice of a new youth movement that might — just might — change the world in fundamental ways.

Probation: 2 young men sit on bench against wall; one wears denim shorts, black shoes, olive jacket and looks down; the other wears cuffed jeans, dark shoes, white T-shirt under open brown flannel shirt and green cap, has mustache.

To Understand Probation, Youth Need Other Youth Who Have Been Through It

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The deliberative portion of juvenile court proceedings focuses intently upon the “actor,” or minor respondent, once the facts of the “act” have been adjudicated by an affirmative plea or after a trial where a finding of delinquency has been entered.

Girl in hooded jacket with crowd of robots behind her

Juvenile Systems Need to Listen to, Trust Young People

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The supposedly immaculate stone walls feel as if they are about to close in on me. I wait on court date after court date for a woman of privilege to apply a sentence or provide a “safe” placement for me. This woman asks questions every time I am dragged into that room by the shackles and cuffs that bind my voiceless frame.

scared girl of color

Black Girls Pay the Price When Police Enter Schools

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Sen. Marco Rubio sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions this week wrongly blaming the Parkland shooting on the Department of Education’s School Discipline Guidance package. This guidance, released in 2014, reminded schools of their responsibility to address racial discrimination in school discipline, which affects students in every state.

Critical Thinking: Why It’s So Important, How to Learn It

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Critical thinking skills are an important life skill, as they help people make good decisions, understand their actions and consequences, and solve problems. I speak inside prisons with women, youth and men to talk about life skills.