Justice Next Uplifts 26 Black and Brown Youth Through Leadership Graduation

On June 8, twenty-six young men and women of color, aged 18 to 24, commemorated their graduation from the Justice Next Cohort at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center. This nine-week initiative, crafted by the national nonprofit Dream.Org in partnership with the NBA, is designed to empower Black and brown youth, providing essential tools for leadership in communities grappling with mass incarceration and environmental injustice. "Our mentorship and training aim to shape a generation capable of advocating for systemic reform," noted Sean Wilson, Dream.Org’s senior director of programs. Now in its second year, this program includes hands-on learning, mentorship, and a $1,500 completion stipend. Graduates like Jenna Wilson, valedictorian, and Tushawn Galloway expressed gratitude for this transformative experience. Carmen Perez-Jordan, CEO of The Gathering for Justice, inspired the cohort through a video address, impelling them to view themselves as the architects of change in a challenging yet opportunity-filled landscape.