On Friday, February 18, 2011, Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr., Pennsylvania’s former Luzerne County Common Pleas juvenile court judge, was convicted by a federal jury on 12 of 39 counts of racketeering. This judicial corruption case has galvanized national attention regarding for-profit incentives under privatization of juvenile detention centers.  Attorney Vanessa Cross reports and comments on the Ciavarella case, citing  nationwide statistics related to the detention of U.S. juveniles. (Commentary: Private Juvenile Detention Centers and the Ciavarella Case).

Join Mothers of the NILE for a Meet and Greet Social on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at The Spaghetti Warehouse, 40 Huling Street, Memphis, Tennessee. Learn more about Mothers of the NILE and meet representatives of the Burns Institute: Community Justice Network for Youth (CJNY). CJNY speakers will discuss alternatives to incarceration of minors. CJNY speakers at the Meet and Greet will include:

Tracy Benson, CJNY Regional Manager. Benson has over 14 years of community organizing experience. This includes her work with organizing the “Stop the Rail to Jail” youth program developed in the State of Wisconsin to address school policing, racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system, as well as immigration/deportation issues that impact youth.

Malachi Garza, CJNY Training and Technical Assistant Director. Garza has also served as the Advanced Political Education Coordinator at the School of Unity and Libertion (SOUL), directing international training and internship programs focused on curriculum development, facilitation, political analysis and community organizing.

Katina Castillo, CJNY Regional Manager. Castillo has also been active as a Students for Hip-Hop (SFHH) Outreach Coordinator where she has faciliated workshops in local schools that focuse on hip-hop cultural activities as a vehicle for social change and an empowering tool for youth.

Bring a friend to the Mothers of the NILE Meet and Greet! Light refreshments and cash bar will be available. RSVP to mothersofthenile@aol.com or call (901) 229-7998.