Discovering Justice

Now more than ever, America needs active and engaged participation from an electorate, especially our youth who need the knowledge, skills, passion, empathy, and opportunities to address and meet the significant challenges the country faces. Civic education helps to safeguard the torch of democracy by setting up future generations to do just that. Focused on historically disenfranchised communities, Discovering Justice programs educate students and the broader community on the workings of the justice system, providing them with skills, opportunities, and motivation to participate in our democratic process.

Working for justice is a cornerstone of America’s democracy as we strive to create a nation that works fairly and equally for everyone. Discovering Justice believes young people are natural fairness seekers and justice advocates. We view it as our job to provide unique experiences for young people to examine our justice system and meet the members working for it.
We help students examine “Little J'' justice issues: how to look at micro-level fairness, and how to practice it with friends and family at school, at home, and on the playground. Our programs help students explore their own identities, as well as their commitment to equality and fairness. Stepping back to consider America’s complex justice system, the organization also includes a macro-level analysis of “Big J'' justice.

Through our programs, students explore the essential question: “What is justice, and how do I use my voice to advocate for it?” We create safe spaces to have important conversations around the justice and injustice they see, both in their lives and in the classroom, and, when we do it right, we transform students' passion for fairness and equality into powerful action. Students walk away, not just as passive observers of the justice system but as active engagers, set on a path towards different levels of involvement, from long-term careers in the justice system, to volunteering for justice-related causes, to simply voting and participating in our democracy in everyday life. Students leave our programs equipped with the knowledge of when, where, why, and how to use their voices to make change:
-Identifying opportunities to move from passive observers to active participants helps our students decide when
to engage and work for justice and a strong democracy.
-Knowledge of the system and all its strengths and weaknesses helps students focus on where they can direct
their energy and passion to play a role.
-Facilitating the exploration of their identities, values, and perspectives with regards to personal and societal
challenges allows our students to tap into their passions and beliefs, explaining why they should fight for what
they believe in.
-Learning the skills to effectively engage in the democratic process and justice system provides our students
with the confidence and experience to understand how to make a difference.

Strategic Direction #1
Strengthen, deepen, and expand programs to be engaging, timely, and accessible to students and communities across the Commonwealth.
Organizational & Program Impact:
New programs will be added and existing programs updated, with curricula and materials that are culturally and historically responsive, research-based, relevant, accessible, engaging, and fun. This programming, focused on the issues of justice and injustice, will increase the opportunities for students to meaningfully examine the workings of the justice system, explore the ideals of justice, and prepare to engage in our democracy.

Strategic Direction #2
Increase opportunities for students to learn directly from legal and advocacy professionals.
Organizational & Program Impact:
Each Discovering Justice program will have opportunities for students to engage with or be mentored by legal or advocacy professionals. These partners will provide rich learning experiences and help steward the next generation of diverse legal professionals and justice advocates. Students will develop new perspectives and a better understanding of career paths through their connections.

Strategic Direction #3
Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in all aspects of Discovering Justice.
Organizational & Program Impact:
A stable, diverse, and experienced staff and an investment in visible and comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion programs will support the Discovering Justice staff and community in understanding how race, power, and privilege affects organizational culture, the justice system, and our student communities.

Strategic Direction #4
Strengthen Discovering Justice’s organizational infrastructure and capacity.
Organizational & Program Impact:
With a diverse, talented staff, board, volunteers, and financial supporters, Discovering Justice will build the capacity to bring its robust civics education program to students across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Discovering Justice's greatest strength is the high quality of our programs. Feedback from educators is overwhelmingly positive—at a recent training, Education Director Jan Shafer received a standing ovation from teachers—and Discovering Justice has become a sought-after resource. Our location in the Moakley U.S. Courthouse and focus on elementary students make us a unique voice in civic education and resource in the community. The organization benefits from the enthusiasm and dedication of experienced staff and volunteers and the reinvigorated leadership of our new Executive Director.