Building Bridges, Not Walls with Ilana Parach

In this episode of Mamish Mavericks, hosts Maynard and Tov Breslow welcome Ilana Parach, COO of Hoops 4Justice, to discuss juvenile justice reform and the organization's impactful initiatives. Hoops for Justice is a young organization focusing on in-facility programs that combine basketball with guided conversations and life skills development for incarcerated youth. They also engage formerly incarcerated mentors to support these young individuals.Ilana shares her journey into this field, driven by witnessing biased policing and systemic injustices during her youth in Michigan. Her experiences inspired her to pursue political science studies and later co-found Hoops for Justice. The organization aims to fill service gaps within the juvenile justice system, aligning closely with Jewish values like Tikkun Olam—repairing the world. Alana connects this mission to her Jewish identity, emphasizing the importance of healing root problems rather than merely hiding them away.The conversation delves into LA County’s ongoing juvenile justice reforms, including restorative justice models and community-based approaches. Alana highlights the need for personalized care, acknowledging the trauma many youth face before entering the system. She stresses the ineffectiveness of punitive measures and advocates for understanding brain development in adolescents when crafting policies.Hoops for Justice employs strategies such as establishing core values early on, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, and prioritizing team dynamics reflective of their program goals. Despite challenges like fundraising, which none of the team had prior experience in, they’ve relied on community networks and creative resourcefulness to sustain their work.Listeners can learn more about Hoops 4 Justice at hoops4justice.org or reach out to Ilana directly for volunteering opportunities. An upcoming documentary by one of their team members promises to shed light on the human stories behind juvenile incarceration. For Ilana, success means contributing meaningfully to a healthy, supportive community—a testament to her dedication and vision for transformative change.