About YJAM
Youth Justice Action Month was started by Tracy McClard in 2008 after she lost her son to suicide while he was held in solitary confinement in an adult jail. She first started by organizing a 5k race to raise awareness about youth justice issues, and over time that grew into Youth Justice Awareness Month and in 2016 changed to Youth Justice Action Month.
Every year we strive to honor Tracy’s loss and Tracy’s legacy by creating a better world for our youth and preventing tragedy’s like her son’s death. Each October is an opportunity for youth advocates across the country to uplift the need to transform our youth justice system from something harmful into something supportive.
Goals of YJAM
Changing the Narrative
The narratives we share about our young people shape the way that they are treated. YJAM aims to shift public perception away from narratives that cast our young people negatively and like they need to be locked away. Instead we uplift narratives about hope, healing, and positivity for our young people. This helps bring us closer to a society where our young people are valued and given the support and resources that they need to thrive.
Advocating for Change
Creating a world where our youth can thrive means changing laws and systems to help them heal instead of incarcerating and punishing them. Through Youth Justice Action Month we aim to support advocacy campaigns across the country to reduce youth criminalization and incarceration while also investing in key supports such as mental health resources, community programs, restorative and transformative justice initiatives, and education.
Uplifting Youth Leaders
Young people are a powerful force for change and they are leading our movement. Through YJAM we want to uplift the amazing work that youth leaders are doing and amplify their voices for change. We hope to inspire other young people to take action and adults to listen to youth about the issues they are facing.