INFORMATION FOR
Major: Psychology and Africana World Studies
Current Title: Policy Analyst, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
In her role as a policy analyst for the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Ashanti Jones develops and executes community- and policy-centered strategy to address significant racial disparities in New Jersey’s criminal justice system with an emphasis on juvenile justice reform. Grounded in a deep belief that empowerment is the key to social transformation, she has used her position there to help build coalitions across the state. These coalitions have successfully advocated for and secured $8.4 million in funding for restorative and transformative justice programs for justice-involved youth, among other major reforms. In July 2024, she was proud to see these efforts culminate in the announcement of the closure of two of New Jersey’s three youth prisons and the establishment of a working group to envision pathways beyond incarceration, including the potential restoration of the historic Bordentown School as a hub for education and community support. From the start of her career, Ashanti has been deeply committed to amplifying community advocacy through organizing campaigns, providing public testimony, leading rallies, authoring op-eds and reports, and developing accessible toolkits—efforts aimed at empowering communities to challenge systemic inequities and advocate for a more just future. Her work is driven by a vision of dismantling systems of oppression and building equitable alternatives that reflect the resilience and brilliance of the communities she serves.
Proudest Professional Accomplishment: “I am most proud of being able to create space. Every project I’ve worked on at the Institute has been led by the voices of those most impacted. I am most proud of being a conduit for their immense power and resilience.”
WP Pride. “When I first came to this campus, I didn’t know the journey I would undertake to be who I am today. I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life until I met a professor named Dr. Danielle Wallace, from the Africana World Studies Department, who completely turned my world on its axis. I finally understood my experiences against a backdrop of historical, social, and political experiences shared by people consistently confined to the margins. I was forced to interrogate my own biases and question everything I knew. I was held to a standard of excellence in academia and my personal life. I was wholly affirmed throughout my whole time here. There is no me without Willy P.”
