JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Hinds County Youth Court Judge Carlyn Hicks made her goal clear at the second annual Youth Justice Summit — to create a system that better meets the needs of the county’s youth.

Hicks brought together mental health experts, educators, city leaders and youth for a day of panel discussions, workshops and conversations.

“How can we do a better job as a system, as a community, to meet the needs of young people, to meet the needs of families, so that we can engage in prevention efforts and not simply respond to criminal activity or respond to behavioral challenges that our young people are facing,” Hicks said.

The day was designed not just to speak to the county’s youth, but to listen to them.

“You know, it’s easy to say things and give lip service to what we think young people need. But they need to feel that we care about them. They need to feel as though their voices are being heard, that they’re just not invited to spaces, but that they are the ones who curate those spaces,” Hicks said.

Attendees also had the opportunity to speak with organizations and learn about resources available to them.

Hicks said the summit’s message is about prevention, not just response, and investing in the county’s youth and communities.

“The youth summit is one of those places that is curated by young people, justice-impacted people, and we are here not to just have them in the room and see them, but hear from them, learn from them, engage with them and figure out how we as an ecosystem can better respond to their needs,” Hicks said.

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