Youth Justice Bus Tour & Briefing

A pivotal moment for youth justice 

Los Angeles County is at a crossroads.

For years, young people in our youth justice system have faced unsafe conditions, instability, and a lack of meaningful pathways to healing and opportunity. At the same time, communities, advocates, and system leaders have been building new approaches grounded in care, accountability, and real alternatives to incarceration.

LA County has taken the country's boldest steps to transform our system: passing Measure J, funding Care First Community Investment, and creating the Department of Youth Development. But the abuses of the probation and foster care systems are costing LA county billions of dollars.

This moment presents both urgency and possibility. We know decisionmakers across the state and nation are watching. Will this work be a model for transformation or the blueprint for how to further silence our kids?

We invite you to join us for a unique, in-person experience designed to deepen understanding, connect you with leaders and decisionmakers closest to the work, and explore what it will take to create a safer, more just future for young people across Los Angeles, and across the state.

What to expect

This experience is designed to be immersive, candid, and solutions-oriented.

Youth Roundtable & Facility Visit

Engage in a moderated conversation inside Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall with young people and community-based providers working within the system, offering firsthand perspective on current conditions and what safety and support truly require.

Bus Tour: Lived Experience & System Insight

During the bus ride, hear directly from system-impacted leaders and deep system knowledge, who will frame the challenges — and the opportunities — ahead.

Briefing & Discussion: Pathways to the Future

Participate in a small-group discussion with national and local experts on what real reform can look like, including:

• Community-based alternatives to incarceration
• Accountability and oversight mechanisms
• Lessons from jurisdictions that have achieved meaningful change

Why this matters

At Liberty Hill, we believe that young people deserve safety, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive — not systems that perpetuate harm. We know that lasting change requires public, civic, and philanthropic partnership.

This gathering is an opportunity to:

• Hear directly from those closest to the issue
• Be in space with select members of the Board of Supervisors with the power to make real change
• Understand the stakes of this moment in Los Angeles
• Engage with local and national leaders advancing real solutions
• Explore how philanthropy and partnership can help accelerate change