Pronouns: Her
Executive Director

Jaclyn Cirinna is a strong leader within the systems reform space Nationally and enjoys having her hands full with positions she can use to impact positive change. 

Her Massachusetts systems experience is as follows. System involved by age 13. Incarcerated by age 14. Committed to the Department of Youth Services until age 18 after being placed in 14 different out of home placements dictated by the State. Voluntarily a Youth Engaged in Services (YES) until age 22. Graduate of State University at age 20. Law student at age 23. Jaclyn Cirinna has both benefitted and been traumatized by systems in the State of Massachusetts. She has utilized those experiences to become someone who evokes real change in communities along the side of many other formerly systems-impacted people and non-system-impacted partners. Her work began within the State of Massachusetts and quickly branch out to be working on a National level in 2017. She was selected to be on The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Justice Strategy Group (JJSG) Youth Advisory Council. Here she served two cohorts in 2017-2021 across four year. The Youth Advisory Councils are the base of Young Leaders Networks work.

In 2019 she was a keynote for TRIO Services (one of her five graduation ceremony’s) where she was awarded a brick in Salem State University’s walkway.

In 2019 she was also a keynote at DYS’s conference in Massachusetts where PPAL had awarded her an “Excellence in Youth Leadership Award”.

In 2019 she also recognized once she graduated university there were no positions comparable to her time spent on the council and that needed to be changed. She worked with Kim Godfrey Lovett at Center for Improving Youth Justice and JJSG at Annie E. Casey to get funding for a full time position specific to formerly incarcerated youth. 

In 2024 she moved on to develop BreakFree LLC as well as lead Young Leaders Network. She actively resides in Florida as of October 2024.

Pronouns: He/His
Director of Outreach and Programs

Meet Benito Lopez-Sanchez

Benito Lopez-Sanchez is a youth advocate, mentor, and changemaker dedicated to creating opportunities for young people who, like him, have faced barriers in life. His work is rooted in personal experience—because he’s been there.

At 15, Benito was incarcerated for destruction of property for the benefit of a gang, leading to two years of probation. At 17, he was arrested again for breaking and entering (2nd degree), a charge that left his record open and closed doors to job opportunities for four years. He knows what it’s like to be counted out, to feel like the system is working against you. But he also knows what’s possible when someone sees your potential and gives you a chance.

Despite the challenges, Benito was determined to rewrite his story. In 2012, his commitment to helping his peers earned him a Certificate of Recognition from the Governor of Minnesota for his outstanding work in improving his community. That same drive led him to a career in youth advocacy, where he’s been making an impact ever since.

In 2013, Benito got his first major opportunity as a liaison between the Saint Paul Police Department and Metro Transit Police, helping connect at-risk youth with resources. From there, his former probation officer personally recommended him for the National Youth Council with the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Justice Strategy Group. Hand-selected for the role, Benito worked alongside national leaders to advocate for policy changes and improve outcomes for youth across the country.

By 2015, he was nominated to join the design team for the Learn Earn Achieve Potential (LEAP) initiative, where he helped design youth-support programs, reviewed grant applications, and co-facilitated the Reaching Teens curriculum.

Now, Benito is Paying It Forward

As the CEO of Mazool Compass LLC, Benito helps organizations develop youth advocacy programs, leadership initiatives, and system-changing strategies that create real impact. He’s also a mentor and leader in the Young Leaders Network, guiding young people to navigate challenges and become changemakers in their communities.

Alongside his work, Benito is earning his bachelor’s degree in social science with a focus on Advocacy, Leadership, and Policy. He serves as President of the TRIO Students Union, where he fights for first-generation college students, and he’s a board member for the University of Minnesota’s Project EAT, helping tackle weight-related health disparities among youth.

But above all, Benito is a proud father to a 12-year-old daughter and a firm believer that no young person should be defined by their worst mistakes. His journey proves that with the right support, anyone can turn their past into a purpose.

His motto? Driven by Values, Guided by Purpose.

Director Of Grants

Jaleel Terrell is the Grants Director for Young Leaders Network (Y.L.N) and a consultant with the Annie E. Casey’s (A.E.C.F) Juvenile Justice Strategy Group Probation Transformation Team.  Through his roles Jaleel advocates for better juvenile justice reforms for youth and families who are affected by the juvenile justice system. Jaleel blends both his personal experience with the juvenile justice system and education to thread the needle regarding juvenile justice policies whether they are state or national scale. Jaleel holds a Master’s In Public Administration (M.P.A) from Kean University  and B.A. in English Writing/ B.S. in Criminal Justice (Double Major) also from Kean University. 

Currently, Jaleel’s focus as a consultant are assisting the Juvenile Justice Strategy Group (J.J. S.G) with their Family Engaged Case Planning project and addressing the School To Prison initiative.