Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)

Thank you to everyone who made the Grand Opening Gala for the Oscar Grant Youth Power Zone last Friday possible: our incredible donors, supporters, participants, staff, and community! Community work would be nothing with out community showing up! We exceeded our fundraising goal and we look forward to opening our doors this summer and stay tuned for the block party! Be on the lookout for an email that will allow you to download photos from the gala and red carpet! #ItTakesCURYJ #DreamBeyondBars #CloseYouthPrisons #BuildYouthLeaders #OGYPZ

Senai Gebretensae, Dream Beyond Bars Associate and two of our DBB Fellows, Julie Astorga and Austin O'campo, graduated this weekend from UC Berkeley, photos are for their celebration with the Underground Scholars program! Senai graudated with a BA in Sociology and as a Haas scholar, Julie gradauted with a BA in English and Austin graduated with a BA in Rhetoric, All 3 were pre-law, all 3 were also first generation students and formerly incarcerated. All 3 graduated with high GPAs! #DreamBeyondBars #CloseYouthPrisons #BuildYouthLeaders

Our Director of Campaigns and Organizing, Dr. Frankie Ramos, speaks on new CA Supreme Court Ruling. Read her quote from ABC 7 News “Obviously, police officers do have a lot of discretion on the streets. They do still have a lot of leeway. There (are) a lot of ways you can interpret reasonable suspicion,” said Dr. Frances Ramos, with Communities United For Restorative Youth Justice, or CURYJ. She is encouraged by the Supreme Court ruling. Especially because of, as she points out, how a routine police stop can quickly escalate into pat down or detention. “We are going up against somebody, who is armed, and who we have seen has the full support of the state behind them, in terms of treating the average person however they think they should be treated,” Ramos said. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gW_9KfU5 #CloseYouthPrisons #Buildyouthleaders #DreamBeyondBars #CURYJ

This last week out Executive Director George Galvis attended the board retreat for the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People& Families Movement (FICPFM), see post below for details! National Gathering of FICPFM is Oct. 10-12 in Detroit this year:

On Monday CURYJ Dream Beyond Bars Fellows & Homies 4 Justice Interns attended Quest 4 Democracy Advocacy Day at The Capitol! The focus this year was to advocate for The End Slavery Act ACA8 & AB 1186 Repair Act. As we always say, those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, so who better to have a say than our Black & Brown youth who are most impacted?

CURYJ is the proud recipient of new grant funding from the Common Counsel Foundation. Together we are working to unlock the leadership of young people to #DreamBeyondBars and to lead the way in transforming our communities by investing in their healing, aspirations, and activism. We are deeply grateful for your continued support! #ItTakesCURYJ #BuildYouthLeaders

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING! Join us for The Oscar Grant Youth Power Zone Grand Opening Gala for dinner, entertainment, raffles, and more as we celebrate 13 years of CURYJ and the opening of the Oscar Grant Youth Power Zone at Fruitvale Station. Be sure to purchase your early bird tickets which will only be available until May 1st at the link here: https://ow.ly/xAhJ50R0chc. What: The Oscar Grant Youth Power Zone Grand Opening Gala When: Friday, June 7th, 5:30pm-10pm Where: Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive #ItTakesCURYJ #DreamBeyondBars #BuildYouthLeaders

Today CURYJ is joining many other leaders and groups in the movement at the annual Question 4 Democracy gathering and lobby day at the CA State Capitol. After a morning of energizing speakers and performances, groups will visit members of the CA legislature to lobby for much needed changes to the criminal injustice system. This year we are particularly pushing for the passage of #ACA8 to End Slavery in California Prisons! Photography by Brooke Anderson photography #EndSlaveryinCA #Q4D2024 #ItTakesCURYJ #CloseYouthPrisons #BuildYouthLeaders

Today CURYJ is joining many other leaders and groups in the movement at the annual Question 4 Democracy gathering and lobby day at the CA State Capitol. After a morning of energizing speakers and performances, groups will visit members of the CA legislature to lobby for much needed changes to the criminal injustice system. This year we are particularly pushing for the passage of #ACA8 to End Slavery in California Prisons! Photography by Brooke Anderson photography #EndSlaveryinCA #Q4D2024 #ItTakesCURYJ #CloseYouthPrisons #BuildYouthLeaders