Join the journey toward justice

Reimagining what’s possible

CHOOSE 180 transforms systems of injustice & supports the young people who are too often impacted by those systems.

By 2030, we envision a region where systems no longer respond to young people with punishment, but with a pathway to possibility. A region where schools, courts, and communities work in partnership to ensure that all young people, especially those impacted by racism, poverty, and systemic harm, are seen, supported, and centered.

Our vision is to achieve change at three levels by combining interconnected & nonlinear pathways

• Individual young people from criminalized communities must have the necessary material resources, access to whole health, and support to reach their goals. If we resource individuals’ specific needs, meet young people where they are, and support their growth, youth will thrive.
  

• Communities must become more unified and resourced to heal as a whole, provide necessary support to one another, and be better equipped to navigate conflict and challenges. If we interrupt cycles of violence, build authentic relationships within and between communities, and make progress toward racial and economic justice, communities will have the power to support themselves.
  

• Systems must be humanizing, restorative, antiracist, and led by the communities they serve to meet community needs. If we build a movement to dismantle the criminal legal system and other punitive institutions, we can create a nationwide system grounded in community, individualized support, and restorative justice.

“I choose 180 because we all need a fresh start and people who believe in us, and I want to be part of that.”

- Program Participant