CTJA Funder Guide

Word from the Director

Christina Quaranta

To our valued reader,

Thank you for your interest in CTJA and the important work that we do, I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of the Connecticut Justice Alliance. As the Executive Director, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to our organization and share our mission of ending the criminalization of youth in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Justice Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to: ensuring that young people are in positions of power, not prison; young people have their needs met within their communities (#InvestInMeCT); and that root causes of youth crime are addressed- to name a few pieces of our work.

Our team is composed of passionate and committed individuals, who are credible messengers, that work

tirelessly to ensure that the voices of those impacted by the legal system are heard and represented.

We are grateful for your support, which enables us to continue our work towards our shared goal of a more just and equitable Connecticut for all. Your contribution will help us achieve our mission, and we are honored to have you join us in this important work.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to the young people of Connecticut. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress and continuing to work together towards a better future for all where communities can experience: healing, trust, economic security, equitable housing, hope, and equal opportunities.

Sincerely, Christina

Christina Quaranta is the Executive Director of the CT Justice Alliance (CTJA), a youth-adult partnership public policy and advocacy organization located in Connecticut.

If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."

- Desmond Tutu

About US

The Connecticut Justice Alliance (CTJA) is a dynamic organization that is committed to achieving a more just and equitable society for all individuals, particularly youth who are disproportionately impacted by Connecticut’s legal system. CTJA is a youth/adult partnership that is composed of Justice Staff, Justice Advisors, and Steering Committee Members who work collaboratively to disrupt and dismantle the pathways that funnel children and youth into the custody of police, courts, and prisons.

At the core of CTJA's mission is the belief that children and youth should not be criminalized for offenses or behaviors that are often a result of systemic factors such as poverty, racism, and trauma. The organization recognizes that the legal system is not a solution to the challenges faced by youth, but rather exacerbates them by perpetuating a cycle of incarceration and recidivism. We believe in addressing the root causes of crime and behavior.

CTJA works to keep children and youth out of the legal system by advocating for alternatives to incarceration, such as restorative justice programs and community-based interventions.

CTJA also works to ensure that youth who do come into contact with the legal system receive

The Connecticut Justice Alliance Team

Continued...

fair and equitable treatment, and are not subject to harsh and punitive sentencing practices that will further traumatize them.

One of the most unique and inspiring aspects of CTJA is its youth/adult partnership model, which empowers young people to be active participants in the fight for the transformation and abolishment of the legal

system. Justice Advisors, who are youth aged 14-25, work alongside Justice Staff and Steering Committee Members to develop and implement advocacy and policy strategies. They provide valuable insights into the lived experiences of youth impacted by the legal system. Their lived experience is their expertise.

Dropping the J

In this video explainer, witness the transformative journey of the Connecticut Justice Alliance as they drop the 'J' from their name, transitioning from the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance to embrace a broader vision of justice reform.

Day of Action

Join CTJA on a momentous Day of Action as they make their voices heard at a press conference held at the Capitol. This video captures the energy and determination as CTJA members, community leaders, and advocates unite to advocate for transformative justice reforms.

Legislative Priorities

The Connecticut Justice Alliance is a nonprofit organization that aims to abolish the racist foundation of the legal system in order to end the criminalization of youth. One of the ways it pursues this goal is by setting legislative goals every year. These goals are set after receiving feedback from Justice Advisors, community members, and Steering Committee members about issues that must be addressed with legislation. There are several reasons why the Connecticut Justice Alliance does this. Firstly, setting legislative goals helps to focus its advocacy efforts. By identifying specific policies or laws that it wants to see changed, CTJA can direct its energy and resources towards achieving those goals. This can help to make its advocacy efforts more effective, as it is easier to build support around a specific issue than a broad, general call for change.

Secondly, setting legislative goals allows the Connecticut Justice Alliance to be proactive in its approach to address the root causes of youth behavior and crime. By identifying policies or laws that it wants to see changed in advance of the legislative session, CTJA can begin building relationships with legislators, community groups, and other stakeholders to advance its agenda. This helps to create momentum and awareness around its advocacy efforts and increase the chances of success.

Finally, setting legislative goals allows the Connecticut Justice Alliance to hold lawmakers accountable. By publicly stating its legislative goals, CTJA can create a benchmark for evaluating the performance of legislators on legal system issues. This helps to build pressure on lawmakers to support CTJA’s goals and helps to galvanize public support for changes to the legal system. Overall, setting legislative goals is a crucial tool for the Connecticut Justice Alliance as it works to end the criminalization of youth.

Vision Sessions

Connecticut Justice Alliance

What is a Vision Session Continued...

A Connecticut Justice Alliance Vision Session is a unique opportunity for community members, stakeholders, and partners to come together and envision a more just and equitable future for Connecticut. These sessions are designed to be collaborative, interactive, and inclusive, providing a space for individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to share their ideas and experiences.

At a Vision Session, participants are en-

couraged to think creatively and outside of the box, imagining new solutions and approaches to the challenges faced by individuals impacted by the legal system. The sessions are facilitated by CTJA staff and Justice Advisors, who provide guidance and structure to the discussion while also ensuring that every voice is heard.

The goal of a Vision Session is to create a shared vision for addressing root causes of youth behavior and crime in Connecticut

that reflects the values, needs, and aspirations of the community. The insights and ideas generated during the session are used to inform CTJA's advocacy strategies and policy recommendations, ensuring that the organization's work is grounded in community-driven solutions.

A Connecticut Justice Alliance Vision Session is a powerful and transformative

Host A Vision Session

experience that brings together individuals from all walks of life to collaborate and envision a better future for Connecticut. By providing a space for creative thinking, community engagement, and collective action, Vision Sessions are an important tool for advancing the cause of promoting equity and justice for all.

Consider hosting a Connecticut Justice Alliance Vision Session to bring together diverse voices and perspectives in your community and envision a better future for individuals impacted by the legal system in Connecticut.

As a community leader, activist, or concerned citizen, you have the power to make a difference and help shape the narrative about young people and the communities they call home in Connecticut. With the support and resources provided by CTJA, hosting a Vision Session is easy and straightforward. Contact us today to learn more about this exciting opportunity to create a more just and equitable future for Connecticut.

A Justice Advisor for the Connecticut Justice Alliance is a volunteer position that involves providing guidance and support to individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Justice Advisors work with individuals who are currently incarcerated, as well as those who have been released from prison, to help them navigate the complex legal system and access resources and support services. They may also provide advocacy and education on issues related to criminal justice reform and work to build community support for these efforts. Justice Advisors are typically individuals with personal experience in the criminal justice system or a strong interest in criminal justice reform, and they receive training and support from the Connecticut Justice Alliance to carry out their work.

The Justice Advisors Model

As a volunteer position, the schedule of a Justice Advisor for the Connecticut Justice Alliance may vary. However, Justice Advisors are typically expected to commit to a certain number of hours per week or month, and may have some flexibility in scheduling those hours.

Length of Term: 2 Years

Justice Advisors serve a 2-year term, from Aug 1 to Jul 1. Those who start mid-term end on Jul 1 of the 2nd year. Each JA creates a Presentation of Learning and presents it at the June retreat or 1st week of Jan. 5 JAs complete their term each year, allowing the organization to hire new JAs. JAs will receive a certificate for their service.

IMPACT

It is significant

Justice Advisors have the opportunity to advocate for policy change and social justice issues that they are passionate about. Through their work, they can help to raise awareness about important issues, mobilize communities to take action, and influence policy decisions at the local and state levels.

Our Demographic Make up JAs range in age from xx to xx and reside in Connecticut. Justice Advisors come from diverse backgrounds and bring unique perspectives and experiences to their advocacy work.

How many JAs are there?

Since the programs inception in xxxx there have been an estimated xxx Justice Advisors.

The Journey of a Justice Advisor

Each quarter is dedicated to different activities and goals for the Justice Advisor. The first year is focused on learning and legislative session preparation and participation, while the second year is focused on personal and professional development, supporting new Justice Advisors, and preparing for the end of the term by creating a Presentation of Learning. Regular check-ins with senior Justice Advisors and new Justice Advisors, as well as ongoing relationship building, are key components of the journey.

Justice Advisor Alumni

After JAs complete their term, they will transition into the alumni network, unless they are re-onboarded for a new term. Alumni will automatically receive CTJA monthly newsletters with public engagement opportunities. Aside from the newsletter, the alumni network will offer a number of enriching opportunities.

JAs are writers

& speakers

JAs regularly testify during legislative session and help conduct vision sessions.

Development

The program emphasizes personal and professional development, and JAs have access to a range of training and development opportunities.

Ending the Criminalization of Youth

Our Outcomes

Connecticut Justice Alliance

Address the Root

CTJA Achievements: Invest in me CT, Bills & Testimony, Partnerships and Community Expertise Workgroup Recommendation

The first few decades of the work that CTJA engaged in were important and brought about raising the age of prosecution as an adult to 18, the closure of the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, reform to the criteria of school based arrests, the removal of Family with Service Needs from state law (criminalizing kids for status offenses), and a shift in the criteria to detain a child in Connecticut's residential (detention) centers- just to name a few.

In 2017, CTJA recognized the need to fully employ and involve the voice and choice of people with lived experience in the work of the organization. After many months of research, conversations, and much debate- the Justice Advisors were born!

In 2020 CTJA launched the InvestInMeCT campaign. The campaign aims to create a more equitable legal system in Connecticut by investing in community-based solutions and addressing the root causes of youth behavior and crime. In 2022, CTJA relaunched the campaign in an effort to encourage lawmakers to #AddressTheRoot causes of youth behavior and crime. In 2017, CTJA, in partnership with the first cohort of Justice Advisors,developed Vision Sessions, a conversation tool that helps community members identify opportunities to address systemic issues related to the legal system. These sessions have been accompanied by the use of fists on maps to represent where community members feel pain and need for change.

For many years, CTJA was viewed as an inside organization that did not have roots in the communities of Connecticut. Since 2017, we have begun to change that, and in many ways have been successful. We still continue to plant seeds, tend to

the trees that we are growing, and alongside community members enjoy the fruit of established trees. CTJA has worked hard to gain the respect and trust of community members and organizations and to be seen as an ally in the work to end the criminalization of youth.

In 2021, CTJA underwent an intentional shift in leadership to a Black woman, Christina Quaranta, who had been with CTJA since the summer of 2016. At that time, the organization also took an intentional turn to be much bolder in its messaging and media. Since 2021, CTJA has seen a steady increase in earned media coverage of the work and advocacy efforts of Justice Staff and Advisors. This has included media coverage of CTJA's efforts to raise the minimum age for arrest and prosecution from 7 to 10, as well as coverage of their work to beat back harmful legislation and reopen a youth prison in Connecticut. CTJA has successfully utilized billboards and radio ads to: raise awareness about their work, shine light on the need

to address the root causes of youth behavior and crime, and to draw the attention to brain development in young people, as well as the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in the legal system.

In addition to their advocacy efforts, CTJA has also worked to build partnerships with a range of national organizations, including the National Juvenile Justice Network, the Sentencing Project, the ACLU, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Annie E. Casey Foundation. These partnerships have helped CTJA to amplify their message and connect with a wider network of advocates and stakeholders.

Finally, CTJA has made personal and professional development a priority for their Justice Advisors, providing them with a range of training and development opportunities to help them grow as advocates and leaders. Through these efforts, CTJA has helped to build a strong community of advocates who are committed to creating a more equitable Connecticut.

Legislative work

CTJA is a trailblazing organization actively working within the legislative landscape to advocate for meaningful justice reform in Connecticut. Through strategic partnerships, evidence-based research, and impactful advocacy campaigns, CTJA engages with lawmakers to shape policies that address systemic issues, reduce mass incarceration, and promote equitable outcomes.

Billboard campaign

The Connecticut Justice Alliance (CTJA) launched a powerful ad campaign in Hartford and Bridgeport, challenging youth incarceration narratives. Through billboards, radio ads, and web content, CTJA raised awareness about inequities in laws and emphasized the need for addressing root causes over punitive measures. The campaign aimed to protect marginalized youth and promote long-term solutions.

CTJA in the Media

CTJA has successfully garnered earned media attention through its impactful initiatives and advocacy efforts. By strategically positioning themselves as a leading voice in justice reform, CTJA has effectively captured the attention of journalists and media outlets, resulting in significant coverage of their work. Through compelling storytelling, data-driven research, and engaging spokespersons, CTJA has secured valuable media exposure, amplifying their mission and driving public discourse on critical issues within the criminal justice system.

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Where Your Money Goes

Donating to the Connecticut Justice Alliance (CTJA) helps to support their efforts in advocating for and with young people, particularly Black and Brown youth. Your donation can help CTJA to hire and train Justice Advisors, produce and distribute educational materials, and support advocacy efforts in the state legislature. It can also help fund community outreach and engagement initiatives, as well as support partnerships with other advocacy groups. Your donation also will sustain the staff of CTJA and allow them to provide for themselves and their families.

To make a donation to CTJA, you can visit our website at www.ctja.org and click on the "Donate" button at the top of the page. From there, you can select a one-time or recurring donation amount, and choose to do-

nate via credit card or PayPal. You can also mail a check to their office.

Here are directions for mailing a check:

Checks should be written out to "Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs" or "SEE" and include “Connecticut Justice Alliance” in the memo.

Checks should be mailed to the SEE office:

Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs

Attn: Admin

23564 Calabasas Road, Suite 201 Calabasas, CA 91302

CTJA accepts donations of stocks, securities, and planned gifts. In-kind (non-monetary) donations in the form of laptop computers (for Justice Advisor use), notebooks, pens, and other office supplies can be made. Donors can contact CTJA directly to learn more about these donation options.

Funding Justice Looks Like

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Support the Justice Advisors

Your donation supports the training and development of Justice Advisors, who work to ensure that the voices of marginalized communities are heard and valued in the criminal justice system.

Support equitable Criminal justice reform

By donating to the Connecticut Justice Alliance, you are helping to promote criminal justice reform and advocate for policies that are equitable, just, and beneficial to all members of society.

Support research and testimony

Your donation can help CTJA to produce educational materials, host community events, and engage in outreach initiatives that raise awareness about issues affecting marginalized communities in Connecticut.

Support collaboration between CT's Advocates

The Connecticut Justice Alliance collaborates with other advocacy groups to amplify their impact and create meaningful change in the criminal justice system, and your donation helps to support these important part-

Support Investing in Me CT

Your donation can help to fund research and analysis on issues related to criminal justice reform, which in turn can inform policy decisions and help to shape a more equitable and just society for all.

Here are five reasons why donating to the Connecticut Justice Alliance is a great way to support juvenile justice reform while having a positive impact on your community.

The Connecticut Justice Alliance (CTJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end the criminalization of youth. Since its founding in 2001, CTJA has played a significant role in shaping Connecticut's legal system policies. Here we present a timeline of key moments in CTJA's history. We hope that this timeline serves as a resource for policymakers, community members, and other organizations working towards ending the criminalization of youth in Connecticut.