In April, LCYC Staff Attorney Alex Narvaez was selected as one of 47 fellows from across the country to join the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute! This fellowship program centers racial equity in anti-poverty advocacy, allowing individuals from legal aid and public interest organizations from across the country to work together to examine their practices and dismantle barriers to opportunity.
A team representing different aspects of the justice system in Washington State applied together as a partnership, with Alex serving in the youth advocate role. Other members of the team include David Keenan, King County Superior Court Judge, Stephan Thomas, former King County Public Attorney, and Prachi Dave, Public Defender Association.
This team will work together to identify how our state’s civil, criminal, juvenile and child welfare systems intertwine and reverberate in ways that amplify harm, particularly to BIPOC communities. They will do this by taking the lead from BIPOC communities most harmed by these structures, who know best what must be dismantled, and to develop a strategic action plan for de-siloing and transforming justice systems so that they are pro-equity and anti-racist.
In reflection about the scope of the project, Alex shared: “We must start caring and advocating for the community in a holistic way, and we can best accomplish that by taking an insightful look as to how we can dismantle the various silos of systems. De-siloing is an issue that many community leaders have looked at in the past and our team is honored to be able to continue their great work.” At LCYC, we are firm believers in holistic representation, providing support for youth beyond the direct legal issue they are facing.
Alex has enjoyed getting to learn from professionals from across the country, saying that: “They are inspirational leaders in their own spaces. I am humbled to carry out this work.”
The fellowship program runs through October. We look forward to taking the learnings from this program to advance systemic change and expand access to justice for youth.