Louisiana Center for Children's Rights

"We want people to be healthy happy productive citizens in our community. It's very hard to do that by removing them from the community and then putting them in hyper-violent institutions, I think we need to be focusing on alternatives to the current system.” - Aaron Clark-Rizzio ?? ?? ?? ?? Our Legal Director was a panelist during this week's Common Ground Speaker series curated by The Neutral Ground, where crime, incarceration, and justice were the topics. Learn more about the series here:

“Prison can have horrible effects on children’s mental health and can often worsen pre-existing struggles by interrupting a child’s social development and education. Tyrell needed help.” ???????? Learn more about how Tyrell’s LCCR team helped him manage his mental health, return to school, lead to him attending college full-time with support from his family members here:

"There’s this perception that Black kids that make mistakes are not also our children. We’re not seeing the children in our community and city as ours or as the future. If we did, we’d be more intentional in how we speak about them, interact with them, and teach them.”? ? ????????? ? One of most recent additions to the LCCR team is our first ever Strategic Storyteller, Cierra Chenier. Within her role, Cierra will be leading LCCR’s efforts to combat the harmful narratives surrounding Black youth and work with LCCR’s policy team, the Youth Justice Advocates, and other community partners and allies to develop campaigns aimed at changing how the public views Black teens in our city. ? ? Despite the likelihood that Black youth in Louisiana are five times more likely to be incarcerated than their white counterparts, they too are like any other kids who want to be safe, loved, and cared for by their community. When they make mistakes, as all teens do, they need to be afforded the opportunity and grace to learn from those mistakes in an age-appropriate ways that don't include incarceration. We look forward to seeing the fruits of Cierra's campaign work take shape in the new year and hope that you'll join us in rejecting narratives that not only sow seeds of fear of our children but also further criminalize them. Learn more about Cierra and the Strategic Storyteller role by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/gX4Dh9tx

We are...? ? ?? A nonprofit law office that stands with kids in the legal system no matter what.? ? ?? Tackling the systemic issues that criminalize mostly poor, Black youth.? ? ?? Working to ensure Louisiana youth thrive in their homes and communities, not in jails or prisons.? ? ?? And are currently hiring for a Policy Associate! ? ? Learn more about this position by clicking the #linkinourbio. #nowhiring #jobopportunity

"We cannot break a cycle of harm and trauma by continuously incarcerating our children." - Renard Bridgewater, LCCR Comms Manager? ? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? Thanks to Alyssa Curtis for highlighting #YJAM2024, last week's film screening with the Center for Youth Equity, and the alternatives to incarceration that not only deserve further investment but will also increase community wellness for all residents! Watch the full story here: https://t.co/lgpaOJI60P #YOUthareworthit #YouthJusticeActionMonth

In #BatonRouge today or willing to make the trek? We're ending #YouthJusticeActionMonth with our next youth justice town hall at the East Baton Rouge Public Library! Hear from educators, advocates, legislators, and of course youth as they discuss recently passed legislation that can affect and harm children across the state. Join us by RSVP'ing here: bit.ly/bryjtownhall

We're so excited for tonight's screening of "This Is New Orleans" and can't wait to see you at The Broadside! This documentary was created by youth working with our partners at the Center for Youth Equity and examines the root causes of violence and its impact on those youth, their families, and their neighborhoods.? ? "This Is New Orleans" is a part of a larger social action campaign that leverages the young people’s experiences and insight into calling on city stakeholders to both maintain and increase funding for youth programming and resources.? ? Thanks to Shelby Latino and members of the Fox 8 News staff for having us on NOLA Now this week to discuss LCCR's work, its successes, #YouthJusticeActionMonth, and tomorrow's event. Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gQwX-xJF

???? THREE WEEKS AWAY!!! ????? ? ??: CALLING ALL #BATONROUGE BASED YOUTH (AGES 10 - 24 YRS OLD) AND THEIR PARENTS/CARETAKERS? ? After all of the positive responses and feedback we received from our #youthjustice town hall in late August, we decided to take this event on the road to our state capital. Join us on Tuesday, 10/29 as we look to inform, discuss, and hear your questions on the recent changes to laws passed during February's special session that will impact and affect children across our state. More info and panelists TBA soon. RSVP here: bit.ly/bryjtownhall #markyourcalendars #YJAM2024 #lalege #Louisiana? #savethedate

Welcome to Youth Justice Action Month (#YJAM2024)! Powered by the National Youth Justice Network, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice and so many other members, partners, and youth advocates across the country, #YouthJusticeActionMonth is an annual month-long campaign where we as advocates raise awareness and inspire action that emphasizes the importance of rehabilitation for system-impacted young people through digital and in-person events and activities. Swipe to learn more about what we and several of our partner orgs have planned throughout the month. #YOUthareworthit #NewOrleans #youthjusticeadvocacy

Within our holistic approach to juvenile defense, our Youth Advocates are among the first people from our team to make contact and listen to the system-impacted youth we represent. We're currently looking for someone who is passionate and deeply committed to keeping children out of the legal system. Is it you??? Learn more about this position & feel free to contact us with any questions by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/evHNQdz