Building a Future Where Every Young Voice Matters: 2025 Youth Justice Leadership Summit Recap

On September 20, 2025, powerful presentations and conversations on complicated topics unfolded inside COhatch Polk Stables in Indianapolis. Twenty-five young people — ages 14 to 19 — gathered with educators, advocates, elected officials, and community leaders to tackle some of Indiana’s most urgent and complex issues. They weren’t there as observers. They were there as problem-solvers, storytellers, and leaders.

The Youth Justice Leadership Summit, hosted by the Children’s Policy and Law Initiative of Indiana (CPLI), was more than a one-day event. It was a glimpse into what our future could look like if we listen to — and invest in — the next generation.

Centering Youth Voice in the Conversation

Many of these young leaders come from communities often labeled as “at-risk,” regardless of their interactions with the justice system. The 2024-2025 cohort of the Youth Justice Leadership Program (YJLP) is determined to build solutions that keep themselves and their peers safe from harmful stigmas and legal challenges.

“People talk about young people like we’re problems to fix,” said one participant. “But what we need are more spaces like this. Not school, not home... spaces where we can lead the solutions.”

Throughout the day, participants explored five interconnected topics shaping youth experiences across Indiana: gun violence, law enforcement in schools, youth mental health, homelessness, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Each conversation was grounded in lived experience and focused on building real, actionable change.

Youth Perspectives on Urgent Challenges

Youth Gun Violence: The young people were clear: prevention must start before a trigger is ever pulled. They called for greater investment in mentorship, after-school programs, and accessible mental health support.

“We need more places where we feel safe and seen,” one student shared. “When young people have people to talk to and things to do, violence isn’t the only option.”

Law Enforcement in Schools: Students voiced frustration over the heavy police presence in their schools and the lack of supportive adults trained to de-escalate and understand youth behavior.

“We need counselors, not cops,” a participant said. “Someone who will ask what’s wrong instead of assuming we’re doing something wrong.”

Youth Mental Health & Gun Violence: The connection between trauma and violence was a recurring theme. Young leaders emphasized that trauma-informed approaches, not punishment, are essential to prevention and healing.

“You can’t punish trauma out of someone,” one youth reflected. “You have to care them through it.”

Homelessness in Indiana: Several students spoke about the instability they or their peers face at home, and how that impacts everything from school performance to safety. They urged leaders to see housing insecurity as a youth justice issue, not a separate crisis.

“How are we supposed to focus in class when we know the kid next to us doesn’t know where they're sleeping tonight?” one participant asked.

The School-to-Prison Pipeline: At the heart of many conversations was the need to disrupt policies and practices that push students — especially Black, Brown, and low-income youth — out of classrooms and into courtrooms.

“School is supposed to be a safe place,” a participant shared. “But safety means support - where are those? How are we getting in trouble for acting out instead of anyone asking why? That's where the pipeline starts.”

A Blueprint for What’s Possible

The Summit was not a panel of adults talking about young people — it was a conversation with them. Youth worked alongside community members and decision-makers, sharing stories, proposing policy ideas, and building connections that will outlast the event itself.

“This was one of the most powerful sessions we've had,” said Damica Marshall, CPLI's Outreach and Strategic Partnerships Associate. “The passion, the ideas, the clarity — this YJLP cohort knows what needs to change. We just need to listen and follow their lead.”

Where We Go From Here

If there’s one message from this year’s Youth Justice Leadership Summit, it’s this: more conversations like this need to happen — and they need to be sustained, supported, and scaled.

Real change doesn’t happen in one day. It happens when young people are given the resources, platforms, and partnerships to lead over the long term. That’s why CPLI is committed to growing this work — but we can’t do it alone.

You can help make sure youth voices continue to shape Indiana’s future. Your financial support fuels programs like the Youth Justice Leadership Summit and creates more spaces where young leaders can turn vision into action. Donate today or become a monthly supporter to ensure that youth voices continue to lead the way toward a more just and equitable Indiana.