Hernan Carvente, an intern with Vera’s Center on Youth Justice and the Center on Sentencing and Corrections since January 2013, was awarded the 2013 Coalition of Juvenile Justice’s Spirit of Youth Award. 

Each year, the Coalition of Juvenile Justice gives the Spirit of Youth Award to recognize and celebrate a young adult, under the age of 28, who made great strides after involvement with the juvenile justice system, overcame personal obstacles, and is now contributing positively to society. 

I was honored to present the award to Hernan on May 4, 2013 in Washington, DC, where I traveled with a group of Verans who wanted to support this incredible young man. In addition to his internship responsibilities, Hernan excels as a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and he was recently appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to the New York State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. 

People at Vera often remark that Hernan has more energy than all of us combined. There seems to be nothing that he cannot achieve when he sets his mind to it. I am so very proud of him and was grateful for the opportunity to acknowledge the work he is doing to improve himself and the community.