About our non-profit About our non-profit

Justice For Families - 

A National Training and Advocacy Organization Rooted in Community Leadership


Justice For Families is a nonprofit organization in the USA dedicated to empowering

 system-impacted families to lead justice reform through education, organizing, and policy change.

About Us

Justice For Families is a Bronx-based, national non-profit organization; and is the first national training and advocacy organization founded and led by families impacted by the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Established in 2011, Justice for Families is dedicated to transforming justice and family regulation systems by centering the leadership, lived experiences, and voices of those most directly affected—particularly Black and Brown families navigating systemic harm and injustice.

Justice For Families (J4F) was created in response to the absence of authentic family voices in justice reform efforts. Too often, reforms are designed without the input of those who bear the emotional, financial, and social burdens of incarceration. Justice For Families fills this gap by equipping families with the tools to advocate for themselves, educate their communities, and lead systemic change efforts from the ground up.

J4F blends direct services, community organizing, training and technical assistsnce for systems stakeholders, and national-level policy work. We train system-impacted parents, caregivers, and young people to become peer educators, public speakers, researchers, organizers, and strategic decision-makers. Through a family-first approach, we foster leadership that is trauma-responsive, culturally relevant, and community-rooted.

While our physical headquarters is located in the Bronx, our influence reaches across the country. As a recognized national training and advocacy organization,  Justice For Families partners with coalitions, government agencies, and grassroots organizations in over 45 states to advocate for justice reform, family preservation, and racial and gender equity.    Our active involvement in campaigns such as New York's  Freedom Agenda to Close Rikers, the Child & Family Well-being Fund, Solutions Not Suspensions, Communities Not Cages, and the NYS Alliance for Cash Assistance reflects our commitment to holistic and sustainable change.

In addition to our advocacy and training initiatives, J4F provides direct support to families navigating multiple public systems. From policy education to leadership development, our programs respond to the realities of families dealing with incarceration, trauma, poverty, and disinvestment.    During the COVID-19 pandemic, we expanded our direct services, particularly in the Bronx, to meet the urgent needs of families welcoming home formerly incarcerated loved ones—providing clothing, food, emotional support, and navigation assistance.

Mission and vision

Justice For Families ’s unique model of peer-led leadership, community-based advocacy, and system-level engagement has established it as a respected nonprofit organization that is reshaping how justice reform is conceptualized and implemented across the country. Through our national Family Leadership Network, we maintain active relationships with more than 3,500 family leaders, sharing resources, celebrating victories, and coordinating collective action.

By anchoring our work in racial and gender justice, investing in youth leadership, and building cross-sector partnerships, Justice For Families continues to lead the fight for community-driven justice transformation. We envision a future where systems uplift rather than punish, where families are the architects of solutions, and where equity and healing are at the center of public policy.

Read Our Empowerment Guide

Uncover the immense value of our guide, designed to equip you with actionable resources and support to navigate systemic challenges. Don't miss this opportunity to empower yourself and your community.

Read our Guide Now

Join the Movement

Whether you're a community member, policymaker, or ally, there’s a role for you in this movement.

As a values-driven nonprofit organization, Justice For Families invites you to stand with families who are leading the fight for dignity, equity, and lasting change.

Together, we can dismantle oppressive systems and build communities grounded in justice, healing, and power.

Justice For Familie Board of Directors

Meet the dedicated leaders guiding Justice For Families in its mission to advocate for equity, support impacted communities, and reform the justice system.

Our Board of Directors brings a diverse range of expertise, lived experience, and unwavering commitment to family justice.

 

Board Members

 



Founding Members

Zach Norris

Founding Co-Director

Grace Bauer Lubow

Founding Co-Director

Empowering Advocacy Across the Nation

In the non-profit organization sector, Justice for Families stands out by offering tailored support that addresses the specific needs and challenges faced by communities across the nation. Our comprehensive access advocacy, policy education, and community-based support empower individuals to become advocates for their own communities. By fostering a collaborative environment, we ensure that our solutions are both locally relevant and impactful on a broader scale. Our commitment to systemic change is reflected in the success stories of those we've supported.

community impact

"Justice For Families provides assistance, in various forms, to parents in need of support for young kids, providing an amazing level of support with a limited staff and are truly changing people's lives for the better. I really like to support the organization."

- Community Partner

future goals

"The community-based support and training offered by Justice For Families have been instrumental in driving meaningful change in our neighborhood."

- Bronx Neighborhood Resident

social change history

"Through their policy education and advocacy initiatives, Justice For Families has empowered us to navigate systemic barriers effectively. We are grateful for their unwavering support."

- National Family Advocate

Empowerment journey

Our Mission

Justice for Families (J4F), established in 2011, is national network of family leaders, impacted by the justice system, working to end mass criminalization, particularly of youth and in communities of color. We are working to advance systemic policy and practice change while also building a base of those directly impacted to help other families and collectively achieve and sustain reforms.  We are founded and run by parents and families who have experienced the system directly with their own children and who are taking the lead to help build a family-driven and trauma-responsive youth justice system.


Justice For Families is a national nonprofit organization that equips families and  communities impacted by systemic injustice—including the criminal legal system, child welfare, and foster care—with the tools and resources needed to drive meaningful change.  We provide comprehensive advocacy and policy education, training and technical  assistance supporting  individuals as they navigate and challenge systemic barriers while building collective power to transform systems  (and communities) across the country.