NJJN and our member organization Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CfJJ) have partnered to present: “Respect Youth Stories: A toolkit for advocates to ethically engage in youth justice storytelling."
Stories show us the faces behind statistics and help us understand how systems operate and impact young people’s lives. Young people giving first-hand accounts of their experiences often prove to be the most powerful lever for change.
It is critically important to establish an ethical approach to advocacy storytelling so that young people are not exploited or re-harmed in the process of sharing their experiences.
How Can Advocates Engage in Ethical Youth Justice Storytelling?
- Be clear about your intentions and maintain transparency throughout the process of gathering and sharing young people’s stories.
- Ensure that young people feel seen, heard and respected.
- Ensure youth have agency in the storytelling process.
- Understand and inform young people of the risks and benefits of sharing their stories,particularly if they have a pending legal case.
- When facilitating an interview with the press, ensure youth are fully informed and help them prepare to share their story.
- When asking young people to share their story as part of an advocacy campaign, build a relationship before asking them to share their story, and stay connected with them after the project is complete.
- Develop ongoing, professional relationships with youth
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