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JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM

“ALL CHILDREN DESERVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A MISTAKE AND LEARN FROM IT”- Darius Pettway

FOUNDER

Darius Pettway

Darius Pettway, MAS, is a passionate author, educator, and youth advocate who believes in the power of faith, sacrifice, and the strength of family. Using his knowledge of the juvenile justice system, Darius has vowed to give his time, efforts, and hope to those youth who may otherwise be overlooked. He has spent all his energy counseling and managing the behavior of countless young men and women in underserved communities, including residential and independent living centers, School Districts, and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

In December of 2014, he became the first in his family as a student-athlete to earn not only a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice but was inducted into the National Criminal Justice Honors Society and later earned a master’s degree in Administrative Science. With his vision and commitment to inspire change by never giving up, Darius has made it his life goal to empower youth to unlock their hidden potential.

History

Life Skool was founded and established as a nonprofit in 2020 by Mr. Darius Pettway as a program aimed at breaking the cycle of incarceration by intervening in the lives of youth who are most vulnerable to entering the juvenile justice or adult correctional system. With a unique and evidence based curriculum Life Skool has developed over 600 students to become the best version of themselves through evidence-based programming. Life Skool has played a significant role in shaping policies and practices related to juvenile justice reform, emphasizing prevention, rehabilitation, community services, and the notion that all children deserve a chance to make a mistake and learn from it. Our efforts continues to evolve as society’s understanding and willingness to act on juvenile justice issues deepens and as efforts to reform the system progress to restore hope and opportunity to young adults far beyond their early stages of life.

Mission Statement

Together, our mission is to provide dynamic mentoring and behavioral health services to youth and families in need.

Diversity & Equality Statement

To create a learning environment that promotes equal opportunities for students by providing an inclusive environment through policies, advocacy, and community partnerships that meet the needs of our population.