Frequently Asked Questions

The Burns Institute

The W. Haywood Burns Institute is a San Francisco-based national nonprofit that helps to protect and improve the lives of youth of color and poor youth by promoting and ensuring fairness and equity in youth-serving systems.

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1. Is there a fee to join the Network?

Not at this time.

2. What type of organizations may join the network?

Organizations that agree with and are willing to uphold the mission and values of the CJNY through the work of their organization.

CJNY's Core Purpose

To protect and improve the lives of youth of color, poor children and their communities by ensuring fairness and equity throughout all public and private youth serving systems.

Values. We believe:

1. Children cannot be rehabilitated when housed in cages.
2. All young people deserve to be treated equally and fairly by the systems that serve them.
3. All young people have a voice that should be heard and included in the decision-making processes that impact their lives.
4. To protect and improve the lives of young people of color and poor children we must intentionally engage their communities.
5. Most young people in trouble with the law are best served by alternatives to incarceration.
6. The process of making change and achieving fairness and equity for youth of color and poor children must be one that is intentionally inclusive of many voices and opinions by convening traditional adversaries and creating an environment that is respectful of divergent views.
7. When young people of color and poor children are provided with sufficient resources, guidance, support, safety, and positive interventions, they can fulfill their potential as contributing members of their communities.
8. A data-driven approach is essential to address systemic issues that involve race.

3. What do you have to do to become a member?

Contact Malachi Larrabee-Garza to sign the CJNY membership form ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

4. Can I join the network as an individual?

You must join as an organization, but if you have left the organization you originally joined the network with and still want to be part of CJNY, we recommend:

Provide CJNY with new contact information in order for your former organization to remain within the network.
If you are working with a new organization, introduce them to the CJNY network. If the new organization is not a fit for membership, you may remain an individual member of the network by filling out another membership form with your personal contact.

5. If my organization becomes a member, what is expected of us?

Provide the CJNY with any information necessary to help the network best serve member organizations.
Regularly attend CJNY gatherings relevant to your state and region.
Share your organization's best practices with other organizations in the network and provide any necessary Peer-To-Peer Assistance that is within your organizational capacity.
Voluntarily engage in CJNY activities by participating in relevant conference calls, planning meetings, conferences and sponsored travel. Provide facilitation and help meet requests by members in the regions (i.e. follow-up meetings, trainings, workshops).

6. How can I donate to support CJNY's work?

CJNY is supported by the generous support of foundations, agencies and concerned individuals like you. As a project of the BI, a federally-approved 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are tax deductible. Once we receive notification of your donation, we will mail you a thank you letter for your records.
To mail in your check or money order donation, send to: W. Haywood Burns Institute, Attn: Donation Manager, 180 Howard Street, Suite 320, San Francisco, CA 94105
Or, use the Paypal button on the BI website.