Children Behind Bars: The Real Costs of Youth Incarceration

Join the National Center for Youth Law for an important discussion on the costs of youth incarceration. We’ve brought together an incredible panel of youth justice experts and youth with lived experience, including Charlie Nguyen (student at UC Berkeley), Noe Picazo (NCYL Lived Experience Advocacy Fellowship graduate), and Christina Peoples (Executive Director, The Amelia Ann Adams Whole Life Center). You won’t be able to find this combination of lived experience and deep expertise in youth justice advocacy anywhere else.

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• Charlie is a 24 year old student at UC Berkeley, who spent about eight years in the juvenile justice system, an experience that shaped him and the path he chose. Today, he’s passionate about justice and committed to using his lived experience to advocate for reform. His goal is to help build a more compassionate and equitable system–one that recognizes the humanity in all of us and creates real opportunities for healing, change, and justice.
• Noe is a dedicated barber, youth mentor, and advocate for justice reform who is passionate about expanding alternatives to incarceration. As someone who has seen firsthand the impact of limited opportunities for young people, he is committed to helping youth build meaningful futures through trade-based education and entrepreneurship. With a strong belief in the power of second chances and skill-building, Noe uses his experience in work and life to inspire and train others. Noe is a March 2025 graduate of NCYL’s Colorado youth justice policy fellowship, where he stood out as a creative  and enthusiastic leader.
• And Christina is a leader, advocate, and visionary with more than 17 years of experience in community organizing, nonprofit leadership, and trauma-informed program development. As the Founder and Executive Director of The Amelia Ann Adams Whole Life Center (AAAWLC), Christina has built a healing-centered organization dedicated to uplifting underserved individuals and families in San Joaquin County through programs rooted in health, education, social justice, and healing.

Why should you attend?

• Hear directly from youth with lived experience with the juvenile legal system
• Learn how different approaches worked, from system-level effects to community supports and responses
• Discover actionable ways to advance youth justice during this pivotal moment