Patrick Young: A Voice Grounded in Community and Transformation
Three days. One unforgettable voice. A celebration of culture, community, and restorative justice.
If you attended NACRJ's 10th National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice in New Orleans, you already know that the energy in the room was something special. One of the people who helped make that experience unforgettable was our phenomenal conference emcee, Patrick Young.
The culture. The storytelling. The humor. The authenticity. The unmistakable energy of a city shaped by resilience, community, and celebration.
For three incredible days, Patrick held space for restorative justice practitioners, advocates, educators, community leaders, and changemakers from across the country. He kept the energy high, the audience engaged, and the atmosphere electric.
There were moments when the entire room erupted with excitement, laughter, and applause. But what made Patrick's presence so impactful was his ability to balance that energy with meaningful reflection, powerful storytelling, and a genuine connection to the work.
He reminded us that restorative justice is not just something we practice. It is something we live, demonstrate, and carry into our communities every day.
More Than an Emcee: Patrick Young Brought the Spirit of New Orleans to NACRJ's 10th National Conference
What made Patrick such an extraordinary addition to our conference was that his passion for restorative justice extends far beyond the stage.
Patrick serves as Vice President of Workforce & Economic Development at Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP), where he leads national workforce strategies across 33 states and international locations, creating pathways to economic opportunity for young people and justice-impacted individuals.
He is also the founder of 4 Social Peace, an organization dedicated to digital community violence intervention, working to prevent online conflicts from becoming offline tragedies.
His leadership journey includes serving as the inaugural Director of Gun Violence Prevention in New Orleans and helping more than 890 formerly incarcerated individuals secure full-time employment through his work with the New Orleans Business Alliance.
A W.K. Kellogg Foundation Global Fellow, Georgetown University New Strategies Rising Leader, and graduate of the University of Chicago's Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy, Patrick brings a unique combination of lived experience, innovation, and community-centered leadership to his work.
He is also the author of A Way Up: Economic Development Post Incarceration
Restorative Justice Is About More Than Repairing Harm
Following the conference, Patrick shared a powerful reflection that captured the spirit of our gathering:
That is why the work of restorative justice is so meaningful. It is not simply about repairing harm, it is about restoring identity, rebuilding relationships, and creating pathways toward healing, hope, and collective liberation.
He also reflected:
Being part of this conference was more than an honor for me, it was a reminder that we are all contributors to a larger movement that continues to transform lives and communities every day.
These words beautifully reflect the heart of our conference theme, The Future Is Restorative.
Patrick's work also challenges us to think more deeply about what successful reentry truly means.
In a recent article, he examines how isolation, stigma, and barriers to opportunity can create life-threatening consequences for individuals returning home after incarceration. He reminds us that while employment and recidivism are important measures, we must also ask whether people are surviving, healing, and finding hope.
It is a powerful reminder that restorative justice is about more than outcomes on paper. It is about people, their humanity, their relationships, and their ability to build meaningful lives.
Click here to read Patrick's article Reentry, Healing, and Hope.
Still Here: Turning the Conference Experience Into Music
Just when we thought Patrick had given us everything he had on stage, he surprised us with something even more special.
Inspired by the energy, conversations, and spirit of NACRJ's 10th National Conference, Patrick created an original song titled Still Here.
In his own words:
Inspired by the energy, conversations, and spirit of the conference, I created a song that reflects many of these themes.
What a beautiful gift to our restorative justice community!
The song is a reflection of resilience, perseverance, hope, and the power of continuing to show up for ourselves and one another.
Click here to listen to Patrick Young's song Still Here.
To our NACRJ community, may we continue carrying that same energy, commitment, and spirit into the work we do every day.
Because restorative justice is not just about the conversations we have at conferences. It is about what we take home, how we show up for our communities, and the change we create together.
The Future Is Restorative. And as Patrick reminded us, we're still here, still growing, and still building something powerful together.
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Lucinda Cross
Conference & Events Director
NACRJ