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Key people at Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice.
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice is an Oakland, California-based nonprofit organization that mobilizes systems-impacted young leaders to advocate against youth criminalization and mass incarceration. The entity operates paid internship programs, such as Dream Beyond Bars and Homies 4 Justice, to engage formerly incarcerated youth in local restorative justice initiatives. Since its inception, the organization has contributed to drafting, co-sponsoring, and advocating for more than 50 legislative bills and ballot measures, while establishing a formal strategic objective to end youth incarceration in California by 2030. The nonprofit's leadership team includes Executive Director George Galvis, who received $178,720 in compensation in 2024, alongside Director of Development Jessica Miller, Managing Director Vamsey Palagummi, and Director Dr. Angela Irvine. Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice was founded in 2011 by George Galvis and a coalition of community co-founders.
Key people at Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice.
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ) is a nonprofit organization focused on ending youth incarceration in California by 2030. It builds leadership and power among systems-impacted and formerly incarcerated youth through culturally rooted healing, political education, and community organizing. CURYJ serves primarily Black and Latinx youth affected by the juvenile justice system, providing programs like paid internships, leadership training, and participatory defense to support healing and activism. The organization also advocates for policy reforms to reduce youth criminalization and promote restorative justice[1][2][3].
Founded in 2011 in Oakland, California, CURYJ emerged from efforts to defeat a gang injunction in the Fruitvale neighborhood that targeted young people of color. Co-founded by George Galvis and others with lived experience of systemic violence, the organization has since expanded its reach across the Bay Area, influencing legislation such as California’s Proposition 57, which limits prosecutorial power to try minors as adults. CURYJ’s early success in community organizing and policy advocacy laid the groundwork for its current programs and its vision of Youth Power Zones—community-led hubs combining housing, workforce development, and healing services[1][4].
CURYJ rides the broader trend of restorative justice and community-led alternatives to incarceration, particularly for marginalized youth disproportionately affected by systemic racism and trauma. The timing is critical as California and other states reconsider punitive juvenile justice policies amid growing awareness of racial disparities and the long-term harms of incarceration. CURYJ’s model influences the ecosystem by demonstrating how cultural empowerment, political education, and community investment can reduce reliance on incarceration and promote healing and leadership among youth[2][7].
Looking ahead, CURYJ aims to expand its Youth Power Zones, creating scalable, community-rooted solutions that integrate housing, workforce development, and healing. Trends such as increased focus on racial justice, youth empowerment, and alternatives to incarceration will shape its journey. As CURYJ continues to influence policy and build infrastructure, its role as a leader in restorative youth justice could grow, potentially serving as a model for other regions seeking to end youth incarceration and transform community safety[3][7].
In sum, CURYJ is a pioneering nonprofit that combines grassroots leadership, cultural healing, and policy advocacy to reimagine justice for youth, with a bold goal to end youth incarceration in California within this decade.
