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Editorial: A Unifying Conversation
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by Bob Simmons for Race Matters for Juvenile Justice
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The following piece was first published in The Charlotte Observer on August 12, 2016
In Charlotte, as in every other community in America, children of color are arrested, charged as delinquents, incarcerated, suspended from school, and removed from their families to foster care at rates significantly out of line with their percentage of the population. The research shows that behavior differences are not the reason.
Race Matters for Juvenile Justice (RMJJ) addresses the manifestation of this problem in our local juvenile justice system.
A variety of public and private participants - from judges to police, the schools, and child welfare agencies - formed RMJJ in 2010. Our goal is to learn why racial disproportionality exists and how to address it so we can live in a community where involvement and outcomes in the juvenile system cannot be predicted by race or ethnicity. Together we identify the institutional, systemic, and implicit biases that produce disparate treatment for children of color and, working together, we implement policy and practice changes to reduce inequities.
The recent tragedies in Dallas, Baton Rouge, and other cities have caused some to draw absolute lines of allegiance.
Because RMJJ honestly accounts for the effects of race across agencies, including law enforcement, some have asked us, "Which side is RMJJ on?"
Our answer is both "expansive and unifying," as Senator Tillis wrote he desires for our national conversation: we stand with the police against violence or disrespect directed at police, and we stand with our fellow citizens against violence and harassment by the police.
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Craig Baldauf
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Council Welcomes New Board Member
Council for Children's Rights is pleased to welcome Craig Baldauf, Executive Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Wells Fargo, as the newsest member of the Council's 2016-2017 Board of Directors. Baldauf, who serves as Head of the Litigation and Workout Division of the Wells Fargo Law Department, began his term of service on July 1. "We appreciate Craig's willingness to serve," said Brandon Lofton, President of the Council Board, "and we look forward to working together to improve the lives of our community's children through direct individual advocacy and the reform of systems and public policy."
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RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY FOR SEPT 22!
Do you think you have what it takes to go up against the CMS middle school curriculum? Join the Young Ambassadors Group for Are You Smarter Than A Middle Schooler? - their premiere trivia-themed fundraising event. This year the action takes place at the
NASCAR HALL OF FAME on
September 22. Players compete in teams of ten so or
ganize a group of your friends, family, or co-workers, then come prepared to compete and have fun. Need a little help? You can actually buy a right answer without getting expelled! It's fast, fun and helps raise money and awareness for a great cause. Table sponsorships are available along with individual tickets. You really don't want to miss what is always a lively, informative, and fun-filled evening--all in support of our kids!
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PUBLIC HEARING IN CHARLOTTE TO RAISE THE AGE - JOIN US!
The North Carolina Raise the Age (RTA) Coalition is urging people to attend an important
public hearing hosted by the NC Court Commission on Administrative Law and Justice. It looks like members of the commission are going to recommend Raise the Age legislation as part of their package of recommendations. This is a BIG potential step forward and we need advocates
 showing and making sure that this RTA recommendation is loud and clear! In our area, there will be a hearing held on August 25
at the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. We hope you will join us on T
hursday, August 25th @ 6pm to learn more about why this is so important and to show your support for real justice system reform for our children and youth.
Let's join forces to tell the commission it's time to stop automatically treating 16- and 17-year-olds as adults in North Carolina's criminal justice system. Representatives from Council for Children's Rights, The Children's Alliance, NC Child and others will be attending and speaking to the issue. You can also sign up to attend, and speak if you so choose, by
registering here.
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First Wednesdays Series - FREE! Training
for Parents, Advocates & Professionals
Special Education Eligibility Process
October 5, 2016 - 12:00 noon
Children & Family Services Center-Room 520
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Custody Advocacy Volunteer Training
October 14, 2016 - 8:30 am- 5:00 pm
Day Long Session - Registration Required
Interested in becoming a custody advocate?
This training required for all volunteers.
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Sabrina Clark |
MEET SABRINA CLARK
Sabrina Clark was new to Charlotte when she first got involved with the Council's Young Ambassadors Group but it didn't take long for her to dive in and get right to work. "
As a social worker with close to 15 years of experience in working directly with and on behalf of children and families involved with the child welfare/juvenile justice/mental health systems, Council's strong emphasis on advocating for these populations made volunteering with the agency feel like a natural fit for me."
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Many thanks to all of you who participated in #SummershareCLT in July. Altogether, over
4,600 items were donated to the 77 participating agencies. We are grateful for the books, school supplies, duffel bags and dollars you contributed that we will now be able to pass along to our clients in need. #Summershare is over but you can still visit the
Council's Amazon Wish List anytime!
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