Archive for July 2007
Foundation Executive Director, Nat Williams reviewed Tools for a Radical Democracy: How to Organize for Power in Your Community by Joan Minieri and Paul Getsos (Wiley/Jossey-Bass, July 2007). He provided the following feedback, “This book is ‘the secret’ for building collective power for long-term social change.” The authors are a part of the leadership team for Community Voices Heard, an HSF grassroots partner since 2003.
HSF grassroots partner, the Justice 4 DC Youth! Coalition collaborated with the Campaign for Youth Justice in producing a new report titled “A Capital Offense: Youth in DC’s Adult Criminal Justice System and Strategies for Reform.” JDCY’s “Stop the War on DC’s Youth” campaign complements institutional reforms within the District’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services which focus on transforming the District’s juvenile justice culture from warehousing to youth development. While the campaign has made progress toward closing the District’s infamous youth detention facility, Oak Hill, youth in the adult criminal justice system do not benefit from these gains. The report describes how the adult system fails youth, e.g., youth may spend only 1 hour out of their cells in a day, and provides specific policy recommendations, e.g., end the pre-trial placement of youth in the adult jail. Coverage of the report has appeared in numerous local news sources, including the Washington Post, Washington Times, and DC Examiner.