Before They Could Dream: An Exploration of Youth Justice and Incarceration in the United States

In the finale of Before They Could Dream, host Abd’Allah welcomes Donnell, Catherine, Eddie, April and James all back for an in-person roundtable discussion. Together, they reflect on the powerful stories shared throughout the series and synthesize the key insights. The conversation focuses on moving forward, exploring tangible solutions and actionable steps to reform the youth justice system and ensure that every young person has the opportunity to realize their full potential.Themes may include physical, mental, and sexual abuse, along with adult language.A partnered production of The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS), The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), Green Buzz Agency and our expert panelists. 

Travel back to the late 1980s and early ’90s, to Galveston Street in Washington, D.C. Once a child with dreams of becoming a scientist, James is forced to confront the consequences of harmful policies and a broken criminal justice system that reshape his life. This episode explores parental loss and the lasting ripple effects of harm,  and how it extended to the family and friends who supported James throughout his journey. Mother and survivor ayoola mitchell joins us, along with experts Dr. Robert Kinscherff, Eduardo Bocanegra, Marsha Levick, and Josh Rovner, to provide critical context on the complex issues at play.Themes may include physical, mental, and sexual abuse, along with adult language.A partnered production of The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS), The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), Green Buzz Agency and our expert panelists. 

Raised by her grandparents in Carrboro, North Carolina, April was a fiery, independent teen, until one relationship altered the course of her life forever. In this episode, we explore the power dynamics involved in coercive control and the realities of teen pregnancy and parenting while incarcerated. Featuring expert insight from Yasmin Vafa and Marsha Levick. Themes may include physical, mental, and sexual abuse, along with adult language.A partnered production of The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS), The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), Green Buzz Agency and our expert panelists. 

Eddie, a lover of the outdoors with dreams of playing professional football, takes us back to his childhood in Washington, D.C., during the height of the “superpredator” myth era. As fear-driven policies take hold, his story reveals the devastating impact of gun violence on communities of color and the isolation of youth placed in solitary confinement. This episode features expert analysis from Marsha Levick and Eduardo Bocanegra, adding critical context to Eddie’s lived experience. Themes may include physical, mental, and sexual abuse, along with adult language.A partnered production of The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS), The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), Green Buzz Agency and our expert panelists. 

Meet Catherine, a young girl from Florida who loved to dance and light up a room—a stark contrast to the difficult journey her life would take. In this episode, we explore the profound impact of childhood abuse and uncover data and insights into the unfair realities stacked against young girls in America’s criminal justice system. We are joined by experts Yasmin Vafa, Dr. Robert Kinscherff, and Marsha Levick, who provide the critical legal and scientific context to help inform these topics.Themes may include physical, mental, and sexual abuse and suicide along with adult language.A partnered production of The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS), The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), Green Buzz Agency and our expert panelists. 

 Donnell, a son of Philadelphia and proud oldest brother, shares his deeply personal story. This episode delves into the far-reaching impact of parental addiction and neglect, and explores the complex realities of disproportionate policing within communities of color. This episode features expert analysis from Josh Rovner, Dr. Robert Kinscherff, and Marsha Levick.Themes may include physical, mental, and sexual abuse, along with adult language.A partnered production of The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS), The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), Green Buzz Agency and our expert panelists. 

In the United States today, children as young as 10 can face adult charges, and there are 12-year-olds living in adult prisons. The first episode of the Before They Could Dream podcast lays the foundation for the series which sets out to illuminate a system most Americans are unaware of - exploring the historical context, key facts, and the challenging realities young people face when forced into a carceral system not built for them. The episode also explores the experience of the show’s host, Abd’Allah, who was sentenced to life without parole as a child growing up in Pennsylvania.Themes may include physical, mental, and sexual abuse, along with adult language.A partnered production of The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS), The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), Green Buzz Agency and our expert panelists. 

Before They Could Dream is a seven-episode podcast series that explores the history, lived experiences, and lasting impact of youth incarceration in the United States.  The Aspen Institute’s Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS) in partnership with the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) and Green Buzz Agency, set out to tell the story of youth incarceration in the United States from the perspective of six people who were given extreme sentences as children. The series explores each person’s early childhood, the dreams they once imagined, their remorse for choices they made under often dire circumstances, and the consequences that have followed them into adulthood. Each story is grounded in factual, legal, and historical context provided by a group of experts across various fields. Together, they illuminate a system most Americans rarely see and the realities young people face when the law decides their futures before they can dream.Featured Podcast GuestsPodcast Host: Abd’Allah Lateef, Deputy Director, CFSYEpisode 2: Donnell Drinks, Leadership and Development Engagement Coordinator, CFSYEpisode 3: Catherine Jones, Co-Director of Outreach and Partnership Development, CFSYEpisode 4: Eddie Ellis, Co-Director of Outreach and Member Services, CFSYEpisode 5: April Barber Scales, Advocate, Author, and Certified Peer Support SpecialistEpisode 6: James Carpenter, Co-Executive Director, Neighbors for Justice DC Additional Experts Include:Eduardo Bocanegra, Interim Executive Director of the Noah’s Arc Foundation and former Senior Advisor at the Office of the Attorney General for the Department of Justice of the United StatesDr. Robert Kinscherff, Executive Director of the Center for Law, Brain and Behavior Marsha Levick, co-founder and former chief legal officer of the Juvenile Law Centerayoola mitchell, founder of the National Healing Collective, mom, and survivorJoshua Rovner, Senior Research Analyst at The Sentencing Project, a research and advocacy organization working to advance effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial, ethnic, economic, and gender justiceYasmin Vafa, co-founder and Executive Director of Rights4Girls, an advocacy organization working for the dignity and rights of young women and girls so that every girl can be safe and live a life free of violence and exploitation  Tune in on Tuesdays for the Latest Episodes from this Podcast Series, through 04/07/2026Themes may include physical, mental, and sexual abuse and suicide along with adult language.Learn how you can support young people and organizations who are reimagining justice in the United States: Youth Justice ResourcesA partnered production of The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS), The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), Green Buzz Agency and our expert panelists.