RISE for Youth is a nonpartisan organization committed to dismantling the youth prison model and ensuring every space that impacts a young person’s life encourages growth and success. RISE promotes the creation of healthy communities and community-based alternatives to youth incarceration. Our work centers youth and their communities who together, challenge and dismantle racial and social injustice in Virginia.
After a year of pandemic, protests, and political strife, America’s divisions are clear, but a new survey reveals that reforming the youth justice system is an issue that brings Virginians together across education and ideological lines. The vast majority of Virginia residents support a range of reforms to the youth justice system designed to fundamentally shift focus and resources to prevention and rehabilitation instead of punishment and incarceration.
Linked here are key findings from a recent survey of 500 adults in the state of Virginia conducted by GBAO on behalf of the Youth First Initiative.
Our Juneteenth celebration was an enormous success; we had over 300 people come out and support our youth out loud! The Keep Our Kids Free: Youth Talent Showcase lifted up youth singers, hip-hop artists, dance teams, mixed-media artists, and even a
Our Juneteenth celebration was an enormous success; we had over 300 people come out and support our youth out loud! The Keep Our Kids Free: Youth Talent Showcase lifted up youth singers, hip-hop artists, dance teams, mixed-media artists, and even a
Watch this powerful YouTube video. Prisons Don’t Work!
A new poll shows that Virginians of all political stripes support shifting the youth justice system. Read the Full Report. Youth First Virginia Poll Memo Feb 2017 Final
Thank you Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant for standing with youth and families and investing in community-based alternatives, not prison.
Thank you Sen. Mark Obenshain for helping our most vulnerable youth by investing community-based alternatives to prison.
Prison is no place for kids. Thank you Governor Terry McAuliffe for protecting community-based alternatives to incarceration.
RISE for Youth | P.O. Box 2347 | Chesterfield, VA 23832 | info@riseforyouth.org