YJAM 2025 United for Action: A Call to Action

 

 

Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM) serves as an important reminder of the value and potential of young people. Held every October, this month-long observance seeks to raise awareness about the unique challenges young individuals face within the justice system and advocates for fair, effective, and developmentally appropriate responses. This October, we come together for YJAM 2025 under the theme United for Action – A Call for Unity. In a time when division threatens progress, unity is our most powerful tool. YJAM is a reminder that change happens when youth, advocates, families, and communities work together to demand justice, elevate youth voice, and reimagine a system rooted in healing and opportunity—not punishment.

The Importance of Youth Justice

Understanding the Impact
Youth justice is most effective when communities, families, and systems work together to support young people rather than punish them. A call for unity emphasizes collaboration, inclusion, and youth voice—ensuring that decisions are fair, equitable, and centered on rehabilitation and growth. By uniting around shared goals, we create opportunities for youth to thrive, build trust, and develop the skills they need to succeed.

Developmentally Appropriate Approaches
A “Call for Unity” helps youth succeed by showing them the power of working together. When young people are included in decisions, supported by their peers and adults, and connected to their community, they develop important social, emotional, and problem-solving skills. Unity teaches collaboration, builds confidence, and helps youth feel valued, safe, and empowered to make positive choices. Each week, we’ll focus on a subtheme that highlights the many ways unity can transform youth justice.

Sub-Themes of Youth Justice Action Month

  • United for Understanding –Expanding knowledge and empathy through reading, lived experience, shared stories, and historical context.

  • United for Healing, not Harm – Centering care, rehabilitation, and restoration over punishment and incarceration.

  • United for Community Investments – Advocating for resources that strengthen families, schools, and community-based programs.

  • United for Youth Leadership – Elevating youth voices and creating spaces for them to lead in shaping solutions.

  • United and Building a Better Future – Working collectively across generations to create safer, more just communities for all.

Goals of Youth Justice Action Month

  1. Raising Awareness
    YJAM aims to educate the public, policymakers, and community leaders about the challenges youth face in the justice system. By highlighting personal stories and data, the month seeks to foster awareness and action.

  2. Advocating for Change
    Advocacy is a key component of YJAM, encouraging reforms that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment. This includes pushing for legislation that eliminates harsh sentencing for minors, reduces racial disparities, and invests in community-based alternatives to incarceration.

  3. Celebrating Success Stories
    Showcasing the success stories of young individuals who have overcome adversity underscores the message that youth are capable of change and growth and so are the systems and support networks that help them get there. These narratives inspire hope and motivate communities to support positive change.

How You Can Get Involved

  • Educate Yourself and Others: Attend webinars, read articles, and engage with resources that provide insight into youth justice issues.

  • Participate in Events: Join local or virtual events that focus on youth justice. These might include panel discussions, workshops, social media activities, or community fairs. 

  • Advocate for Change: Contact your local representatives to express support for policies that promote fair treatment of youth in the justice system, such as the Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPRA).

  • Volunteer: Offer your time to organizations that work with at-risk youth or those involved in the justice system.

  • Share on Social Media: Use platforms like X, Instagram, or Facebook to share information and raise awareness using hashtags like #YJAM2025 and #United4Action.

Youth Justice Action Month is a crucial opportunity to reflect on how society treats its youngest members. By acknowledging that youth are uniquely capable of growth and change and so our the people and systems that support them, we commit to creating continuums of care that nurture potential, foster rehabilitation, and cultivate a brighter future for all. Through collective action and advocacy, we can ensure that every young person has the opportunity to succeed.

Resources to Get You Started:

YJAM 2025 Activation Planning Guide

Share Your Youth Event for Our National YJAM Calendar here

Distribute "Dear Librarian" Letter

Share the YJAM Reading List with local librarians!

YJAM 2025 Banners

Weekly YJAM 2025 Graphics

YJAM 2025 Social Media Toolkit- Coming Soon

  

  

Check out the YJAM 2025 National Events Calendar here.

 

Acknowledgement: YJAM partners extend a special thanks to Liz Ryan, former OJJDP Administrator, for curating the book list in partnership with the youth justice community.

 

YJAM is powered by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ), National Juvenile Justice Network(NJJN) and youth justice advocates like YOU across the country!

Donate to Youth Justice: Youth justice advocacy needs financial support from individuals who care about the safety, protection and future of all youth. Take action this month by making a donation to a youth justice advocacy organization in your state or a national organization like CJJ or NJJN. 
Stay Connected: Stay committed to youth justice all year long by joining our email lists for future news and action alerts.