An Exploration of Youth Justice and Incarceration in the United States
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, the 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.
Listen to the Podcast Series Here
Featured Podcast Guests
Experts include:
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Dr. Robert Kinscerff, Executive Director of the Center for Law, Brain and Behavior
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Marsha Levick, co-founder and former chief legal officer of the Juvenile Law Center
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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 States
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Joshua 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 justice
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ayoola mitchell, founder of the National Healing Collective, mom, and survivor
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Yasmin 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
Latest Episodes:
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(Trailer) Before They Could Dream: An Exploration of Youth Justice and Incarceration in the United States
Upcoming Episodes: (March 10th, 2026)
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Episode 1: No Child Born Bad
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Episode 2: Move as a Unit
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Episode 3: The Cavalry Walked Away
Learn how you can support young people and organizations who are reimagining justice in the United States: Youth Justice Resources
Tune in on Tuesdays for the Latest Episodes from this Podcast Series, through 04/07/2026
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.
About The Partners:
About the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS)
The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions (AIFCS) has been a beacon of hope and change for over a decade. AIFCS promotes collaborative, community-based efforts that build the power and influence of those with the least access to opportunity. We support communities to come together to expand mobility, eliminate systemic barriers, and determine their own solutions to their most pressing challenges.
At the heart of our work lies the Opportunity Youth Forum (OYF), our flagship initiative, which continues to thrive after ten years. OYF connects over 40 local collaboratives dedicated to the success of young adults aged 16-24 who are not engaged in work or education. Our decade-long journey has been marked by partnerships with urban, rural, and tribal communities, all with the common goal of expanding pathways to reconnect these youth and transforming systems to enhance educational and employment outcomes.
About the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY):
The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY) is a national nonprofit that leads efforts to ban juvenile life without parole and other extreme sentences for children. The CFSY works to dismantle the racial disparities, social injustices, and residual harms caused by the legal system. Through partnerships with advocacy organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders, the CFSY supports survivors of youth violence, those incarcerated as children who are still serving or have been released, and their respective families and communities.
About the Green Buzz Agency (GBA):
Green Buzz Agency’s mission is to tell compelling stories that inspire action and evoke emotion, through a commitment to our clients, team and creative excellence.