Change Agents for Youth Justice Reform: Michael Kemp

It's always great to highlight and nurture the next generation of leaders! This profile is the 2nd profile of a longer post written by Angella Bellota by the Campaign for Youth Justice blog. 

When pursuing change in your state, youth/adult partnerships are critical for campaign reform efforts. Youth are more than just their story and have a source of knowledge and leadership that should not be ignored. When young people are supported and treated as partners – their leadership shines through and their ability to meet the challenges of advocacy work, and their ability to message the issue in unique ways, have led to some impressive moments.

Michael Kemp

We met Michael after his release from prison, and, sadly, 66 days after his release, he was sent back.  We kept in touch through mail and after his release in 2010; he interned with us and ultimately became a spokesperson. Michael is a regular here at our office, he has been on several radio shows, was featured in The Washington Post, and speaks regularly in classrooms, conferences, and other events. He is a poet ambassador with Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop in Washington, DC. In the clip below he talks about his visit with the U.S. Attorney General on reform efforts. He advocated for the appointment of an OJJDP Administrator and the critical need for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue final PREA regulations especially to protect youth in the justice system. Regulations were issued six weeks after the meeting with the Attorney General.

Click HERE to watch a clip of Michael during the “BarackTalk” event sponsored by the National League of Young Voters