Justice Forward Virginia Seeking New Board Members

Justice Forward Virginia is seeking to add three new members to its Board of Directors this year, bringing the total number of directors to seven.

Newly adopted by-laws of the organization require the Board to make good faith and reasonable efforts to ensure the Board becomes broadly representative and inclusive of historically marginalized and directly impacted people. Factors to be considered in electing Board members include race, ethnicity, sex, geographic distribution, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, level of interest in and engagement with advocacy for criminal legal reform, professional experience, skills and abilities, and willingness to actively support Justice Forward’s fundraising and advocacy efforts.

Justice Forward’s Board currently is a “working board” which means that members of the Board both govern the organization and staff its operations.  New Board members will participate in growing the size and influence of the organization, oversee the hiring of an executive director/CEO, and, eventually, help the Board transition to a strategic governing board that oversees a staff-led organization.

The current members of the Justice Forward Board would particularly welcome expressions of interest in joining the Board from people who have shown their commitment to criminal legal reform and have one or more of the following attributes: they are a person from a historically marginalized group; they have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system; they live or work in Hampton Roads, the Valley or Southwest Virginia; they have experience with budgeting or finance; they have non-profit governing board or staff leadership experience; they have fundraising experience; or they have experience as a criminal defense lawyer or public defender.

People interested in serving on the Board are invited to submit a one-page statement of their interest in and reasons for serving on the Board that includes information about how their selection as a Board member will assist the Board in meeting its goal of becoming broadly representative and inclusive. To ensure consideration, the statement of interest should be submitted by email no later than the deadline extension of noon on October 14, 2022, to Andy Elders, Chair of the Board, at info@justiceforwardva.com.