Explore the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Youth Justice Story with Us!
Posted in Announcements FCI-Blog JRF News
Announcing three session titles for our upcoming 2026 Janet Reno Forum!
We are pleased to announce the session titles of three of the panels we will be exploring in “America’s Youth Justice Story: Unearthing the Past and Reimagining the Next Chapter” on September 10th!
We hope you can join us for this in-person, one-day conference held in the heart of Washington, DC on Georgetown University’s Capitol Hill Campus. Alongside a day packed with panels and speakers, we’ll also examine the cathartic power of creative expression to shift perspectives, nurture empathy, and heal harms through art, spoken word, film, music, and more from justice-driven and system-impacted artists
“The Forgotten Children of Youth Justice’s Past”
This session will explore how the racist past of the youth legal system led to kids in state custody being buried in unmarked sites, reflect on how that past still impacts the system today, and survey the work currently underway to tell the stories of these forgotten children with dignity and care.
“America Youth Justice Narratives: Perspectives of the Media, Policy-makers, and Communities”
This session will explore the stories we, collectively, are telling about today’s youth justice system. How can we use storytelling and truth-telling to transform lives, to help heal harm and trauma, and make a better future for all? What stories are those who have been impacted by the system telling? What are the most prominent narratives being told about the youth legal system today, by both the media and policy-makers, and what are some ways we can help shift those narratives for positive impact?
“Reimagining the Next Chapter of America’s Youth Justice Story”
This session will explore the inspiring efforts of those working tirelessly to create and advocate for practices that are restorative, just, and lead to better futures for–and critically–led and written by the youth and families themselves.