Our Story

About the Founder

Jarrell E. Daniels is a distinguished Community Organizer, Truman Scholar, and the visionary Founding Director of the Justice Ambassadors Youth Council (JAYC) at Columbia University’s Center for Justice. Leading Justice Ambassadors, a transformative 12-week social policy and life skills building seminar, Jarrell bridges government officials with 18-25 year-olds from New York City’s most underserved neighborhoods, many impacted by the legal system or involved in gangs. At the heart of JAYC lies "policy-by-proximity," integrating the voices and experiences of marginalized individuals into government policy solutions, focusing on system reform and community empowerment.

Jarrell's remarkable journey from incarceration to academia underscores his commitment to societal change. Enrolling in his first college class, Inside Criminal Justice, while still in prison, marked a pivotal moment, leading to a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and African American Studies from Columbia’s School of General Studies. His efforts as a gang interventionist and research scholar at Columbia University exemplifies his dedication to transforming the lives of vulnerable youth. Now pursuing a PhD in Psychology and Social Intervention at New York University, Jarrell seeks to explore the impact of poverty and adversity on adolescent development, with a focus on gang culture and effective interventions to support the developmental trajectories of low income youth.

Jarrell E. Daniels
Founder and Executive Director of Justice Ambassadors

Ava Kamdem 

Director of Operation & Development 

Ava Kamdem is a student at the School of General Studies at Columbia University studying psychology, a Social Impact Fellow, and Global Thought Scholar with Columbia World Projects. Ava is the Development Operations Associate at Justice Ambassadors within the Center for Justice, managing and optimizing organizational development to increase funding revenue and streamline systems and processes. Ava is a formerly incarcerated survivor of human trafficking that has devoted her academics to studying disenfranchised groups to cultivate capital and change narrative. Ava has used her lived experience to advocate for others by assisting federal agents in recovering victims, and consulting with homeland security to have alternatives to

Gabriel Feldman

Program Manager

Gabriel Feldman comes to The Center For Justice with a diverse background. He studied architecture in Boston at Wentworth University and worked as an architect in Manhattan for nearly a decade managing the design and construction of thousands of square feet of interiors. In 2019, he transitioned to humanitarian aid in Lesvos, Greece, focusing on assisting refugee and asylum-seeking minors. From 2019 to 2022, he managed various programs with organizations such as Boat Refugee Foundation, Still I Rise NGO, and Better Days NGO.