fundraiser
Growing Capacity for LSJA-- Yulise Reaves Waters
$3,750 Raised
$70,530 raised by 42 donors
71% complete
$100,000 Goal
Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with offices in in both Austin and Dallas. Since 2019, LSJA's community-based programs in Dallas have served 233 individuals through workforce development, education, referrals and mentorship, significantly impacting North Texas opportunity youth. Its statewide litigation and advocacy programs have impacted thousands more through representation, policy change, community training and legal services.
By the end of 2024, LSJA aims to directly support over 1,150 individuals through innovative litigation, training, and workforce programs while impacting almost 60,000 more through advocacy and policy change.
LSJA drives systemic change in the criminal legal system through advocacy and innovative programs improving life outcomes for youth and young adults. Our three strategic initiatives leverage evidence-based best practices to engage, redirect, and rehabilitate individuals who have been chronically disengaged and mistreated.
Over the next five years, LSJA’s work to promote the improvement of the social determinants of health as an essential component of rehabilitative outcomes for youth involved in the legal system will serve as a national policy and practice model. Our ultimate goal is to make justice accessible to all youth and young adults in Texas through evidence-based programs, innovative policies, and community engagement. Join us on North Texas Giving Day as we work to build our capacity and serve thousands more justice-involved youth and young adults.
To boldly address systemic failures in the justice system through advocacy and innovative evidence-based programs that improve life outcomes for youth and emerging adults.
- Hire additional mentors and coaches to ensure clients participating in community-based programs are successful and safe;
- Fund litigation services to represent youth and young adults who are survivors of abuse, have received extremely harsh sentences, or have been traumatized by the criminal legal system;
- Build a strong coalition of organizations and stakeholders who are committed to educating and advocating on behalf of system-impacted youth.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of LSJA’s identity. The agency understands that having varied perspectives can help generate better ideas to solve the complex problems of a changing world. LSJA is committed to advancing, cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity and access because it makes it a stronger, more successful organization. Staff and board members are consistently challenged to view the work LSJA does through a racial equity lens. The 11-member board of directors is comprised of seven women and four men and identifies as 9 percent Asian, 27 percent Black/African American and 64 percent white. In 2025, many founding board members will be ending their terms in 2025 and LSJA will be making a conscious effort to increase diversity.
LSJA’s evidence-based programs are developed in response to youth voices and are centered on youth experiences. Persons with lived experience and community partners are engaged in program design and evaluation. This includes 60 percent of staff who have experience with or have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system. Staff also reflect the population served through gender, racial and ethnic representation. Through robust surveys and peer advisors, LSJA builds all programming around the voices and experiences of those who have been directly impacted.
Organization name
Lone Star Justice Alliance
Causes
Justice-involved adults or youth
Operating Budget
$1,000,000 - $2,999,999
Counties Served
Dallas, Collin, Ellis, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Other
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
624 N. Good Latimer Expressway