Lived Experience Expert Fellowship: Empowering Justice-Involved Youth Leaders

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

The issue we seek to address is the systemic impact of mass incarceration on BIPOC youth in Los Angeles, particularly with the barriers faced, traumas experienced and root challenges that surface in re-entry. An estimated 1 in 5 Californians has a criminal record, disproportionately affecting Black and Latinx communities. These records severely restrict access to employment, housing, and education, perpetuating economic and health inequities. Youth transitioning from incarceration face compounded challenges, including disconnection from educational and workforce development opportunities, overpolicing and limited access to necessary support services. Our project aims to empower these youth by providing leadership development, legal support, and community-building opportunities. Our model equips youth to lead change on re-entry based on their lived experience and their capacity to imagine transformative change in institutions.

Our Lived Experience Expert Fellowship (LEEF) project seeks to empower justice-involved BIPOC youth in LA through trauma-informed leadership development and mentorship to transform barriers and challenges experienced by formerly-incarcerated communities.
In its pilot year, LEEF will form 2 cohorts of 7-8 system-impacted youth, offering stipends and training in community building, organizing, and policy advocacy. Participants will engage in narrative workshops, experiential learning, and education on essential skills. The curriculum will address systemic issues tied to mass incarceration and re-entry, as well as opportunities for advocacy and careers in public service.
As part of training, LEEF cohorts will support SIC’s expungement clinics and know-your-rights educational workshops serving at least 200 community members. These clinics have been recognized for their trauma-informed, narrative-driven model that empowers participants. Youth leaders will also have consistent access to mental health support via partners.
Drawing from the clinics, fellows will also conduct community listening sessions, develop policy proposals, and lead a Community Reentry Roundtable to influence local government and secure internships.
By equipping youth with skills to navigate and transform historically marginalizing systems, LEEF aims to foster a new generation of systems-impacted leaders who can shape the policies affecting re-entering communities and build a more inclusive LA.

LA County will see a reduction in recidivism among justice-involved BIPOC youth due to the support provided by the trauma-informed leadership development, mentorship, and reentry services. The project will improve the employability of justice-involved youth by providing access to education, job training, and internships, reducing poverty levels and contributing to neighborhood economies. Our cohort model increases opportunities for peer support, and builds a larger community of re-entering youth who can see their experiences beyond stigma. The project cultivates a new generation of young leaders equipped to advocate for policy and systemic changes, resulting in more inclusive and equitable decision-making processes within the county. Community listening sessions will create platforms for dialogue and collaboration among diverse stakeholders, especially as the needs for re-entry grow with California shifting direction on mass incarceration.

Participant Engagement and Completion: Enroll 15 youth in our LEEF training academy. Measure by tracking enrollment and completion rates via our e-learning platform, aiming for a 90% completion rate.
Leadership and Advocacy Development: Form two cohorts of LTS Fellows, each with 7-8 youth. Measure participation in leadership and advocacy training sessions, targeting a 90% completion rate and involvement in community listening sessions and policy development.
Reentry Services and Legal Support: Conduct 12 Know-Your-Rights presentations, community workshops, or expungement clinics, serving 200 youth. Measure participant numbers and service outcomes, with a success target of 60% achieving record clearance or improved access to support services.
Employment and Internship Placement: Secure internships or similar opportunities for 50% of the LTS Fellows with local government or community organizations.