Youth Impact

Youth Impact engages youth in New York City and Newark, N.J., to become transformative leaders. Members facilitate peer diversion programs, implement community projects, and take actions to address inequity in their communities and the factors that lead to youth involvement in the criminal legal system.

Youth Impact provides restorative, peer-facilitated diversion programming. As paid interns, members lead diversion programs, develop and pilot projects to promote community change, and take actions to address the underlying issues causing youth contact with the criminal legal system. Many members have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, reflecting Youth Impact’s guiding philosophy that those who have been impacted are most able to lead, develop meaningful solutions, and engage their peers. Youth Impact offers individual support, mentorship, and educational opportunities to support members as they move towards their individual goals.