Partner Resource

The desire to catalyze positive change in the world around us is at the heart of philanthropy. It has often been said that the role of philanthropy is ‘to be the venture capital of social change’. Advocacy involves making a case for a cause or a movement and bringing it to those who have the power to make the change.

Why fund advocacy? Many philanthropic organizations shy away from funding advocacy, given its perceived political nature and links with lobbying for profit. This type of funding requires courage but the reasons in favor of it are hard to ignore. It’s a potent strategy that can mobilize action and effect significant change.

For more than one year, the Commission has studied the City’s criminal justice system, and Rikers Island in particular. In addition to gathering formal testimony and interviewing a wide range of experts—city officials, corrections staff, formerly incarcerated New Yorkers and their families, prosecutors, defense attorneys, clergy, service providers, advocates, and others—the Commission undertook a far-reaching community engagement process, including meetings with the faith community, design workshops, public roundtables throughout the City, and a website to solicit public input. The Commission also performed in-depth data analysis and evaluated model programs and practices from across the country and around the world.

The prison system both in the United States and Connecticut is a constant revolving door through which thousands pass each and every year. Unfortunately, many of those entering our prisons are formerly-incarcerated individuals returning after failing to make it on the outside. In Connecticut, over half of released prisoners return within three years of their release, thereby costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

This survey seeks to 1) identify the current practices and prevailing attitudes of large and small employers in Connecticut regarding the hiring of formerly-incarcerated job applicants; 2) examine what incentives or other factors might enhance the prospects of ex-offenders landing jobs; and 3) consider possible reforms or initiatives that might drive better outcomes in terms of reducing recidivism and turning Connecticut’s formerly-incarcerated population into productive, taxpaying members of their communities, thereby relieving some of the strains on Connecticut’s criminal justice and correction budgets.

This report from AYPF details the challenges faced by young people at-risk in Connecticut and how to best redirect them onto a path towards success. AYPF studied Michigan and Connecticut’s youth justice models and provided recommendations of proven methods and structures shown to help youth fulfill their potential at a postsecondary level.

Published by American Youth Policy Forum, as part of Policy Research on Successful Pathways to Postsecondary Success for Juvenile Justice Youth

New York State’s juvenile justice system has seen significant improvements in community safety, coordination, data-driven decision-making, and outcomes for youth ages seven to 15 in just a few short years as the result of collective visioning and action.

Published by FSG, as part of New York Juvenile Justice Initiative Mini Case Study