Freedom 4 Youth (F4Y) has grown into a comprehensive, community-rooted organization that empowers youth both within and beyond the juvenile justice system. Co-founded in 2008 by Billi Jo Starr, Ph.D., and youth at Los Prietos Boys Camp, F4Y began with an officially recognized Toastmasters charter called Toastmasters Soldiers, the first chapter of its kind for youth in the juvenile justice system. In 2011, Toastmasters Soldiers evolved into Freedom 4 Youth, where youth participated in a weekly leadership program at Los Prietos. In 2012, program participants went on to create the Freedom 4 Youth Advocates, a campus-based mentorship organization at the University of California, Santa Barbara, supporting youth involved in the justice system. The Advocates have contributed tens of thousands of volunteer hours, with around 60 active members and hundreds of alumni. Many alumni have pursued master’s degrees in social work, entered teacher education programs or law schools, and joined the workforce as counselors, case managers, and law enforcement officers. In 2019, F4Y opened its own Center after operating without a physical location for over a decade. Since then, the organization has grown exponentially, serving hundreds of youth each year, nearly all of whom have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system.
