Home Our Work Awards Beth Arnovits Gutsy Advocate for Youth Award

Beth Arnovits Gutsy Advocate for Youth Award

Deadline for Nominations: Friday, September 18, 2020

Purpose:

To honor individual advocates for youth justice who embody the tenacity, vision, fearlessness and wisdom of Beth Arnovits.

Elizabeth (Beth) J. Arnovits (1950-2011), Executive Director of the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency for 36 years and one of the founders of NJJN, spent most of her life working to reform the justice system for both youth and adults. Beth’s heart for second chances made a huge difference in the lives of youth, and her adventurous approach to life inspired those who worked beside her. Before she died, she received recognition as a Greater Lansing Woman of the Year 2011 Finalist. NJJN is honored to recognize Beth, was nothing if not gutsy, with this annual award.

Criteria:

The nominee should:
1. Use advocacy as a key tool to effectively promote fair treatment of youth in trouble with the law.
2. Be stalwart in his/her advocacy and engaged in the battle over the long haul.
3. Promote the national movement for reform as well as conduct state-based work.
4. Be a mentor to others in the field.
5. Promote race equity.
6. Be a trailblazer in their reform movement.
7. Use advocacy for the purpose of juvenile justice prevention, community-based alternatives, and/or coalition building.
8. Either be, or be aligned with, a current NJJN member (either state organizational member or Youth Justice Leadership Institute member).

Who can Nominate a Gutsy Youth Advocate?

*Nominations must come from a NJJN member (either state organizational member or Youth Justice Leadership Institute member) or NJJN partner. ·
*Anyone affiliated with a member or partner organization may nominate themselves for the award. ·
*No more than two people can nominate any one person.

Awardees Receive

Plaque and recognition at the virtual awards ceremony

How to Nominate Someone

Please fill out an online nomination form here by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, September 18, 2020.

All submissions should include the following information:
1. With what organization is the nominee affiliated?
2. How does the nominee use advocacy to effectively promote the fair treatment of youth in trouble with the law?
3. How does the nominee promote race equity?
4. Ho long has the nominee been engaged in the battle for change?
5. What has the nominee done to move the movement forward on a national level?
5. How has the nominee mentored others in the field? 6
7. How has the nominee been a trailblazer in the juvenile justice reform state or national fields?

NJJN’s Membership Advisory Council will review all nominations and select the winner.

* * *

The National Juvenile Justice Network is composed of coalitions, organizations and alumni of the Youth Justice Leadership Institute across 43 states and the District of Columbia, all of whom advocate for a fairer justice system for children and teens.

More About the Award

Created by the NJJN Executive Committee to honor one of NJJN’s founders and a true leader in the juvenile justice reform movement, this award is designed to both acknowledge other leaders in the field and to create a communications platform for justice reform work. Each year, we will honor an individual advocate for youth justice who embodies the tenacity, vision, fearlessness and wisdom of Beth Arnovits. (See below for more about her.)

Please note: only NJJN members, partner organizations, and staff are eligible to nominate folks for these awards, though anyone affiliated with a member or partner organization may nominate themselves for an award.

Elizabeth (Beth) J. Arnovits (1950-2011) -- pictured at right -- was executive director of the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency for 36 years and one of the founders of NJJN. She spent most of her life working to reform the justice system for both youth and adults. Beth’s heart for second chances made a huge difference in the lives of youth, and her adventurous approach to life inspired those who worked beside her. Before she died, she received recognition as a Greater Lansing Woman of the Year 2011 Finalist. NJJN is honored to sponsor this award in remembrance of Beth, who was nothing if not gutsy.