Jarrell E. Daniels is a distinguished Community Organizer, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, and the visionary Founder of the Justice Ambassadors Youth Council (JAYC) at Columbia University’s Center for Justice. Through JAYC, Jarrell leads a transformative 12-week seminar that empowers 18-25 year-olds from New York City’s most underserved neighborhoods, many of whom are impacted by the legal system or involved in gangs. By connecting these young people with government officials, JAYC fosters a unique "policy-by-proximity" approach, amplifying the voices and lived experiences of marginalized communities to drive systemic reform and promote community empowerment.
Jarrell’s inspiring journey from incarceration to academia is underscored by his TED Talk and through his commitment to societal change. His transformative path began when he enrolled in his first college course, Inside Criminal Justice, while incarcerated, eventually earning a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and African American Studies from Columbia’s School of General Studies. His work as a gang interventionist and research scholar at Columbia further reflects his dedication to transforming the lives of vulnerable youth. In addition to his leadership with JAYC, Jarrell co-developed the 12-month Project Restore gun-gang violence intervention program, a comprehensive policy proposal conceptualized within the Justice Ambassadors framework. The program aims to address gun and gang violence in marginalized communities through a combination of community-based interventions, policy reform, and local partnerships. It exemplifies Jarrell’s commitment to creating sustainable, community-driven solutions to youth violence.
Currently a Doctoral student in Psychology and Social Intervention at New York University, Jarrell’s research interests center on social change processes—specifically, how change occurs across systems and institutions, as well as how individuals develop and change over time through interpersonal and setting-level interventions. His work explores the impact of resource scarcity and adversity on adolescent development, with particular focus on the dynamics of adolescent contact with the criminal legal system. He is committed to advancing evidence-based interventions that address youth violence and promote collaboration between communities and government to foster systemic transformation.