Juvenile Court Reactivates Community Advisory Council
Former Judge says members can have a “magical” impact
After more than a decade of inactivity, the Hamilton County Juvenile Court Community Advisory Council is back up and running.
A team of dedicated volunteers, led by Procter & Gamble attorney Joe Heyd, is once again supporting the Court’s work to rehabilitate delinquent kids and divert dependent, abused and neglected children, at the earliest point possible, from future involvement with the Court.
In addition to Heyd, other officers elected to serve are Ozie Davis, vice president, Jeff Martin, secretary, and Alice Young-Basora, treasurer.
The Advisory Council was established in 1957 and has 501(c)(3) charitable status, pursuant to the statutory requirements specified by the Internal Revenue Service. The goal of the Council is to identify needs and pay for reward and incentive programming for kids through various fundraising projects. The Council is able to accept and disperse donations from local people and organizations, which the Court itself is prohibited from doing.
Over the years, the Council has raised and distributed funds that have been used to boost efforts by ProKids, create a gun education program, support court-involved kids participating in a robotics competition in Columbus, and sponsor motivational events and opportunities such as speakers and cultural outings.
Before Judge Kari Bloom assumed her role as administrative judge of Juvenile Court, the Council had not met since 2012. In 2023, Judge Bloom began the work of reviving the Council.
“Community involvement and support are incredibly important to the work that we do with delinquent and other court-involved children,” said Judge Bloom. “I am extremely grateful to our council members for stepping up and making a commitment to the Council. I am especially proud of the diversity of the group. We have parents, former judges, corporate leaders, child advocates, mental health professionals, non-profit directors, and community activists on our team. Their work will make a difference.”
The Council meets quarterly, per the bylaws outlined in the Code of Regulations, but will work throughout the year and collaborate with Court’s Director of Community Engagement, LaDonna Wallace Smith, to create fundraising opportunities.
We are very grateful to have two former Juvenile Court judges on the Council. The Honorable Sylvia Hendon served Juvenile Court from 1993 to 2004. The Honorable Thomas Lipps served from 1998 to 2010. Their experience and wisdom bring much value to the work we are undertaking.
“I am so happy to see the Council back in action, providing critical ‘gap filler’ funding for our most vulnerable youth in ways not anticipated or allowed with taxpayer dollars,” said Judge Hendon. “That additional funding can truly make a huge difference in the treatment and rehabilitation of a youth and family. Those of us who were privileged in past years to be able to administer those private funds sometimes saw an almost magical transformation in the behavior of some recipients. Whether it was for emergency clothing, eyeglasses, school supplies, or even enrichment classes like music and art, the small amounts allocated to the appropriate child reaped huge rewards! I’m privileged to be back on the Council to see it at work again.”
Pictured Above: Jonathan Smith, Procter & Gamble; Judge Tom Lipps; Joe Heyd, Procter & Gamble; Judge Sylvia Hendon; Judge Kari Bloom; Edwin Orlando Swan, non-profit director; Jeff Martin, parent; Ozie Davis (on Zoom), community leader; Kelly Leon, Court staff; Sarah Henry, Court staff; Sallie Westheimer, 4Cs for Children (retired); Adam Hill, Children’s Hospital; Jean Sepate, Lighthouse Youth Services (retired); LaDonna Wallace Smith, Court staff; Brian, Court staff; LaToya Bell, Ohio Justice & Policy Center; Alice Young-Basora, International Peace Museum (Apologies to Judge Bloom and Jeff Martin for the face masks cast by the Zoom screen!)