This initiative is dedicated to honoring the memory of incarcerated youth buried in abandoned and lost burial grounds throughout the United States. The work was inspired by the discovery of nearly 250 incarcerated Black children who died at the Maryland House of Reformation & Instruction for Colored Children and were buried nearby between 1877-1939, most of whom were placed in unmarked graves.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJJV5PCcT_0
Want to get involved? We appreciate the outpouring of support, and realize the enormity of the project. There are a few ways to get involved! Learn more here.
Announcing Clinton Lacey as the 2026 Recipient of the Shay Bilchik Award for Innovation in Youth Justice
August 13th, 2026
We are pleased to announce that Clinton Lacey will be the recipient of the 2026 Shay Bilchik Award for Innovation in Youth Justice! Throughout his career, Clinton Lacey has consistently…
Maxwell II Maxwell to Kick-Off America’s Youth Justice Story with Musical Performance!
August 12th, 2026
We are so excited to announce that Maxwell II Maxwell will be kicking off our America’s Youth Justice Story: Unearthing the Past and Reimagining the Next Chapter national forum on September 10th…
New Media Coverage Following First Meeting of Maryland Commission on the House of Reformation
August 9th, 2026
We are glad to see that media coverage has followed the first meeting of the Maryland Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children. We’d like to draw your attention to…
Spotlighting The Forgotten Children of Youth Justice’s Past Panel!
August 4th, 2026
Aligning with recent news stories from the Washington Post (At least 230 Black boys died in jail. Their families want answers — and justice) and Maryland Matters (Commission to assess tragedy…
We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their contributions to the efforts to research, uncover and highlight the House of Reformation burial ground in Maryland:
