The Power of a Single Step: Transforming Youth Justice Landscapes

Sean Selby

13 Mar 2025 — 1 min read

Cameron Smith, Take2 CEO speaking at the Aotearoa Youth Justice Summit

There is no ambulance waiting at the bottom of the cliff.

Only rolling hills that remind us change starts with one decisive step 🤔

Yesterday, I was inspired at the Youth Justice in Aotearoa Summit hosted by Foundation North, where a dedicated delegation from California gathered to explore New Zealand's approach to youth justice.

The delegation delved into how Indigenous perspectives are woven into the design and delivery of our services, making our system more culturally responsive.

They also examined our community-led initiatives that steer young people away from prosecution and incarceration ✅ ✅

Cameron Smith, CEO of Take2, set an empowering tone with his reminder that when supporting justice-impacted individuals, we must recognise there is no cliff - only rolling hills 🧐

His words urged us all to pick a spot and begin creating meaningful change.

Insights from Tui Ah Loo at Te Pā underscored the importance of reimagining and, where necessary, dismantling outdated systems to reveal the mana - the inherent life force - of our young people 📈😇🫶🏻

Similarly, Tuhi Leef from Pillars highlighted how their organisation embodies the communities it serves by ensuring indigenous representation at every level, from the boardroom to frontline staff ✅ ✅

It was heartening to meet passionate leaders from New Zealand's youth justice sector, visionary funders, and justice sector professionals from San Francisco and California.

The event reaffirmed that our collective commitment to social reform and equity transcends borders ✊🏼🫶🏻🙌🏻

I'm grateful I got to meet passionate people from Impact Justice, Genesis Youth Trust, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Beloved Village, Urban Peace Movement, The California Wellness Foundation, Akonadi Foundation and the Sierra Health Foundation 😇🥳🤗

A heartfelt thank you to Audry McLaren and everyone at Foundation North for orchestrating this inspiring gathering and fostering solution-focused discussions that drive real change for youth in New Zealand, California, and beyond 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

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