Jarrell E. Daniels is a community organizer, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, and Founder of the Justice Ambassadors Youth Council (JAYC) at Columbia University’s Center for Justice. Through JAYC, he leads a transformative seminar connecting 18-25 year-olds from underserved NYC neighborhoods—many impacted by the legal system or gang involvement—with government officials. This “policy-by-proximity” model amplifies marginalized voices to drive systemic reform and community empowerment.
Jarrell’s journey from incarceration to academia began with a college course taken while imprisoned, culminating in a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and African American Studies from Columbia University. A TED speaker and gang interventionist, he co-developed Project Restore, a 12-month gun-violence intervention program addressing youth violence through community-based strategies and policy reform.
Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Intervention at New York University, Jarrell is pursuing research focused on the impact of resource scarcity on adolescent development and the ecological factors surrounding youth gang involvement and criminal legal-system contact. He is committed to evidence-based interventions that promote youth empowerment, systemic transformation, and collaboration between communities and government.