irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $645KCOMMUNITY LAWYERING MODEL: OUR FLAGSHIP COMMUNITY-LAWYERING MODEL COMBINES DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MATTERS, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOPS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATION STAFF. PARTNERING WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF NYC COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WE OFFER ON-SITE LEGAL SERVICES FOR CLIENTS FACING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION, EVICTION, SCHOOL SUSPENSION, SUMMONSES, AND OTHER CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES. WE PARTNER WITH MORE THAN 50 COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS ACROSS NEW YORK.
- #2 $577KPOLICY REFORM: WE WORK AT THE STATE AND CITY LEVEL TO PUSH FOR POLICIES THAT DIVEST FROM SYSTEMS THAT ARREST, DETAIN, AND IMPRISON BLACK AND LATIN YOUTH, AND INVEST IN THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT MAKE YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TRULY SAFE. WE WERE ONE OF THE LEAD ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN TO RAISE THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY TO 18 IN NEW YORK, AND WE CURRENTLY LEAD THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE YOUTH JUSTICE & OPPORTUNITIES ACT (YJ&O), A COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA TO EXPAND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND RECORD SEALING FOR YOUTH NOT COVERED BY RAISE THE AGE. THROUGH OUR CITY DREAMERS PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE ADVOCACY TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND CONNECT THEM WITH LEADERSHIP AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES SO THEY CAN BE AGENTS FOR CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.EMPLOYMENT.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Lawyering Model
Provides on-site legal representation in civil and criminal matters, including employment discrimination, eviction, school suspension, and summonses, through partnerships with over 50 community-based organizations across NYC.
Policy Advocacy & Youth Leadership
Organizes youth-led campaigns for policy reform, including the Youth Justice & Opportunities Act (YJ&O), and provides advocacy training through the City Dreamers program and Youth Committee.
Strategic Litigation
Files individual and class action lawsuits against employers for unlawful discrimination based on criminal history, securing settlements and systemic hiring reforms; includes landmark cases under the NY Fair Chance Act.
Youth Justice & Opportunities Act (YJ&O)
Comprehensive policy agenda to expand diversion, reduce youth incarceration, and provide record sealing for young people up to age 25; led by Youth Represent in coalition with impacted youth and partners.
Youth Justice Innovation Fund
Proposed $50 million fund to support community-based organizations providing prevention, early intervention, and alternatives to detention for youth aged 12–25.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocates for youth justice policy reformLeads campaigns to pass transformative legislation such as the Youth Justice & Opportunities Act and the Fair Chance Act, and works to expand diversion, reduce youth incarceration, and eliminate criminal record barriers for youth up to age 25.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Builds youth advocacy and leadership capacityTrains system-involved youth in public speaking and civic engagement through the Youth Speakers Institute and City Dreamers program, empowering them to lead campaigns, public events, and community outreach.
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Constitutional and Government Accountability Litigation 1 activity
- Conducts strategic litigation to hold institutions accountable for systemic inequitiesFiles individual and class-action lawsuits, including the first Fair Chance Act cases in New York, to challenge discriminatory practices in employment and other systems, resulting in over $8 million in settlements and protections for more than 24,000 individuals.
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Program Evaluation and Impact Research 1 activity
- Evaluates and documents impact of legal services modelConducted an independent evaluation of its community lawyering model to assess outcomes in employment, education, and housing, and to measure value to community partners.
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Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
- Organizes fundraising and public awareness initiativesHosts signature events, digital campaigns, and community partnerships to raise awareness and funding for youth justice programs.
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Family and Juvenile Legal Defense 1 activity
- Provides holistic legal representation to youth impacted by the criminal legal systemDelivers interdisciplinary legal services, including trauma-informed support and resource navigation, to young people aged 26 and under across all five boroughs of New York City, partnering with over 50 community-based organizations to address legal, housing, mental health, and employment barriers.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.19M
Contributions & grants$1.85M84%
Program service revenue$291K13%
Investment income$28K1%
Other revenue$21K
expenses
Total expenses$2.74M
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$2.01M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.92M
Cash$627K
Investments$1.05M
Liabilities$452K
Net assets$2.47M
Liquid reserves7.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -25.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL POPE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $211K |
| KATHERINE RUBIN | DIRECTOR, POLICY & STRATEG | 40 | $170K |
| DALE VENTURA | DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & | 40 | $139K |
| SHOMARI WARD | LITIGATION DIRECTOR | 40 | $130K |
| MAIRE O'MALLY | COO (THRU 1/24) | 40 | $5K |
board members · 14
- AYIRINI FONESCA-SABUNE — DIRECTOR
- DONTE RODGERS — DIRECTOR
- HITHA PALEPU — DIRECTOR
- JASON SPEARS — DIRECTOR
- JEANNE BYRD-ADAMS — VICE-PRESIDENT
- JIA RIZVI — DIRECTOR
- KEON RAMNATH — DIRECTOR
- LEONARD NOISETTE — DIRECTOR
- MAGGIE LEAR — BOARD CHAIR
- MAI BRAND — DIRECTOR
- NATHALIE BERGER — DIRECTOR
- RICHARD MCKEON — TREASURER
- ROBERTA MEYERS — DIRECTOR
- WES KORANTENG — DIRECTOR
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- Brooklyn Events Ctr., LLC Partner — Defendant in the second Fair Chance Act litigation case filed by Youth Represent.
- HSBC Partner — Michael Stewart, Director of Emerging Markets at HSBC, serves on the Advisory Council.
- Independent evaluator Partner — Partnered with an independent evaluator to assess the impact of Youth Represent's community lawyering model.
- NAACP-LDF Partner — Partners with NAACP-LDF in pursuing individual and class action lawsuits against employment discrimination.
- NEO Philanthropy Partner — Charles Nuñez, Program Specialist at NEO Philanthropy, serves on the Advisory Council.
- New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC) Partner — Jose Ortiz, Jr., Executive Director of NYCETC, serves on the Advisory Council.
- Office of Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand Government — S. Monroe Solomon, Director of Constituent Affairs for Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, serves on the Advisory Council.
- Robert Sterling Clark Foundation Partner — Brooke Richie-Babbage, Director of Network Initiatives at the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, serves on the Advisory Council.
- The Door Partner — Peter T. Gee, Interim Executive Director of The Door, serves on the Advisory Council.
- The Madison Square Garden Co. Partner — Defendant in the first Fair Chance Act litigation case filed by Youth Represent.
- Warner Music Group Partner — Temi Adeniji, Vice President of International Strategy & Operations at Warner Music Group, serves on the Advisory Council.
- Youth Committee Partner — Youth-led body that helps guide legal services, strategic litigation, and advocacy campaigns.
- Youth Justice & Opportunities Act Partner — Primary legislative initiative advocated for to expand diversion and reduce youth incarceration.
- advocacy organizations Partner — Collaborates with advocacy organizations to litigate cases of workplace discrimination and advance policy reform.
- community organizations Partner — Partners with community organizations across all five boroughs of New York City to deliver legal services in accessible locations.
- community-based organizations Partner — Formal partnerships with community-based organizations across all five boroughs to deliver legal services in neighborhoods.
- defenders Partner — Collaborates with public defenders and legal defenders in policy advocacy and organizing efforts.
- law firms Partner — Partners with law firms to file individual and class action lawsuits against workplace discrimination based on criminal history.
- service providers Partner — Works with service providers as part of coalitions advocating for policy changes to reduce youth incarceration.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Lawyering Modelmethodology: community_lawyeringBy delivering legal services directly in communities through partnerships with local organizations, we increase access to justice and strengthen local capacity because proximity and trust reduce systemic barriers to engagement.
- Divest-Invest Policy Strategymethodology: divest_investBy advocating to divest from punitive systems and reinvest in community-based safety solutions, we produce more just and effective public safety outcomes because resource allocation determines system impact.
- Holistic Defense and Systemic Enforcementmethodology: holistic_defenseBy combining legal representation with social services and strategic litigation, we address both immediate needs and structural inequities because interdisciplinary support and enforcement mechanisms close the gap between rights on paper and real-world outcomes.
- Youth-Led Power Buildingmethodology: youth_drivenBy centering youth voices and lived experience in legal defense, policy advocacy, and organizational decision-making, we produce more effective and equitable outcomes because youth co-lead strategy and drive systemic change from the ground up.