Walking With Youth Toward Hope and Purpose
What we do:
Modern Abolition meets youth where they are—inside detention centers, schools, churches and on the streets—walking alongside them with mentorship, creative skill-building, and leadership development. Led by people with lived experience, we empower youth to break cycles, reclaim their future, and build their own path forward.
Modern Abolition exists to walk alongside young people who have been impacted by trauma, instability, and involvement with the justice system. We believe real change happens through presence, consistency, and care—not quick fixes or surface-level solutions.
Our work is rooted in relationship. We don’t rush transformation. We show up, stay engaged, and build trust over time.
We primarily serve at-risk and justice-involved youth, many of whom have experienced:
- Family instability or loss
- Exposure to violence or neglect
- Involvement with the juvenile justice system
- Disrupted education and limited access to resources
We also serve the families, caregivers, and communities surrounding these young people—because lasting change doesn’t happen in isolation.
Every young person we encounter carries a story, a name, and potential worth protecting. We meet them with dignity, not labels.
Intra-School and Juvenile Justice Programs
We seek to implement and deliver mentoring services and mental wellness workshops to middle and high school students, and to youth populations that are involved in the juvenile justice system (including those youth currently placed within a juvenile correctional facility or those who have recently been released from a juvenile facility).
Modern Abolition serves youth through a combination of mentorship, creative expression, faith formation, and community engagement. Our programs are designed to meet youth where they are while helping them move toward healthier, hope-filled futures.
Our work includes:
- Mentorship & Presence
Consistent relationships with trusted adults who listen, encourage, and walk with youth through real-life challenges. - Creative Expression
Art, music, and design used as tools for healing, identity formation, and constructive self-expression. - Programs & Camps
Structured experiences that provide safe environments for growth, reflection, leadership development, and joy. - Inside Detention Centers
Regular programming and chaplaincy presence within juvenile facilities—bringing hope, stability, and care behind the walls. - Community & Family Gatherings
Shared meals, conversations, and experiences that foster belonging and strengthen relationships.
How We Work
We are committed to work that is:
- Trauma-informed – aware of the realities youth carry
- Relational – focused on trust before outcomes
- Faith-rooted – grounded in the love and example of Jesus
- Long-term – invested beyond one moment or event
We partner closely with churches, community organizations, and local institutions to ensure our work is responsible, sustainable, and effective.
Who we are:
We are a group of individuals committed to the rescue and redemption of those who’ve been labeled as lost, throwaways, or just hopeless. We are comprised of people with vast education and experience from pastors and licensed therapists who learned in school, to those who learned in life and even behind bars. Most of us look like the youth we serve and have similar stories.
America is in a mental health crisis and our young people are suffering.
When young people experience consistent care, healthy relationships, and safe spaces to grow, lives begin to change. Cycles can be interrupted. Hope can take root.
Your support makes this work possible—helping us remain present in places where consistency is rare and trust takes time.
Join the Work
There are many ways to walk alongside this mission.
- Support the work through giving
- Serve with us as a volunteer
- Partner with us as a church or organization
Together, we can continue showing up—one relationship, one story, one life at a time.
Check Out Our Programs:
YDF Rise Up Camps
A unique camp program for youth in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility (YDF)
Chaplaincy
Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility (YDF) Chaplaincy Program for youth that are currently detained
Pupil Project
A development & empowerment program, set to equip and engage “pupils" where they are at - cultivating a movement of high capacity leaders, creatives and entrepreneurs
Youth Impact Stories
Check out our blog where we have documented many stories of life change from the programs and mentorship we offer - helping turn great days into great lives
Our curriculums are carefully crafted by mental health experts who have a strong background in working with adolescents and justice involved youth. We also mix in other evidence based programing to enhance our proprietary system. Our program is crucial for fostering a supportive and healthy learning environment. Such programs promote emotional resilience, reduce stress, and improve overall mental health, enabling students to thrive academically and personally. By prioritizing mental wellness, schools and other institutions can help students develop essential coping skills, enhance their well-being, and create a positive, inclusive community.
Blog posts
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![Alexander's Story]()
Alexander's Story
MEET ALEXANDER He came in on a mistake—one wrong turn.But now?He’s committed to making better choices, even if they’re just small, consistent ones. Athletic. Smart. Focused.Alexander knows there’s something bigger ahead, and he doesn’t want to mess with what God...
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![Mateo's Story]()
Mateo's Story
MEET MATEO, Convicted. Lost. Hungry for attention in the neighborhood. That was the old story. But becoming a young dad changed something. It made him lean in. He had always heard God’s voice—now, he’s listening to His direction. Inside, Mateo...
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![Tyrell's Story]()
Tyrell's Story
MEET TYRELL, It’s not easy to leave the life.It’s even harder to leave your family behind when they’re still in it. But Tyrell knows it’s necessary.He’s ready for something different.Something real. His first bold step?Baptism. Not as a performance.Not as...
