We are delighted to announce three new Stoneleigh Youth Advocacy Fellows at Juvenile Law Center. Each Stoneleigh Youth Advocacy Fellow will be collaborating with Juvenile Law Center staff to develop strategy, work on communications and policy projects, and build community partnerships alongside legal and policy staff. This fellowship ensures that youth expertise, perspectives, and leadership are infused in the organization’s efforts to advance systems change.
Brit Christopher
Stoneleigh Youth Advocacy Fellow
2026-2027
Brit Christopher is a Stoneleigh Youth Advocacy Fellow at Juvenile Law Center. She started her career at the organization in 2017 as a youth advocate in Advocates Transforming Youth Systems, formerly known as Youth Fostering Change. During Brit’s time in the Youth Advocacy Program, she worked on projects like the Operation: Education publication, Juveniles for Justice’s Road Map to Reform and the Philadelphia Ombudsperson Office Project. Brit also served on Juvenile Law Center’s board as an observer. She is a seasoned trauma-informed facilitator and advocate focused on driving systemic change and amplifying marginalized voices.
Diamond Colbert
Stoneleigh Youth Advocacy Fellow
2026-2027
Diamond Colbert is a Stoneleigh Youth Advocacy Fellow at Juvenile Law Center. She is interested in supporting policy advocacy and community-centered efforts that advance the rights and well-being of youth. Her interest is rooted in both lived experience and a longstanding commitment to community engagement. As an intern at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, Diamond focused on advocating for youth in the foster care system and ensuring they had access to appropriate resources, protections, and opportunities. She also engaged with policy reform initiatives aimed at improving the foster care system and supporting youth more broadly. Her experience has reinforced the importance of client-centered representation and community informed approaches to advocacy, particularly for young people navigating complex systems.
Rodney Gardner
Stoneleigh Youth Advocacy Fellow
2026-2027
Rodney Gardner is a Stoneleigh Youth Advocacy Fellow at Juvenile Law Center. He is a community organizer and youth advocate for young people navigating the child welfare and juvenile legal systems. Much of his work in the past has involved case managing, facilitating workshops on youth incarceration and restorative justice, and supporting the creation of bills to change laws for a better environment for our youth. Rodney has collaborated with a variety of organizations, including the Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project, the Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project, Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout, and Juvenile Law Center.
