“What energizes me in the field of juvenile justice is being able to relate, empathize, and see things from many different lenses (from the youth’s lens, staff lens, management lens, facility leadership lens etc.). Surrounding myself with Change Agents: people who are passionate about making a difference and true juvenile justice reform energizes me!"

“I would love to get more training in topics geared towards Leadership Development, Life Coaching, Juvenile Justice Reform (i.e., Evidence-Based Decision Making, Youth in Custody, Ending Isolation in Youth Facilities), Public Administration, Trauma-Informed Care, to name a few. Training in these areas would assist with providing at-risk youth with a high level of treatment services as well as be a resource to front-line staff, middle-management, facility leadership, and other community stake holders. I want to be able to inspire, motivate, and empower people; especially those who work within detention facilities across the country."

“Dr. Japheth Claude is my mentor. Three things stand out in my mind:

1. When I shared my desire to transition into a different role within the detention facility approximately eight years ago, he asked, 'Well Ms. Finley, Have you prepared a successor?', meaning who is going to carry on the work to make sure the girls are still taken care of. 'Who is going to carry the torch on the housing units?' This was a transformational period for me as I hadn’t really thought about the impact, significance, and importance of really pouring into others so that they are just as effective, so that the staff win and our youth win. The search began! I became even more intentional with identifying champions, building on individual strengths, coaching, training, and pouring into those around me and today I ask myself that question when it’s time to move on and encourage others to ask themselves: Who Will Be Your Successor?
2. Not allowing the 'No’s or the ‘Not Now’s' to deter me. When you don’t get the opportunity, when you feel overlooked, when you don’t feel valued, when doors have closed in your face, it’s easy to get frustrated. We are human; frustration is normal. It’s okay to feel the emotion; it’s not okay to stay there. It’s still about giving 150% and having those doors open when it’s the right time.
3. He would always say, ‘True success is never accomplished alone.’ It takes a team; Together Everyone Achieves More. Lastly, empower your staff, identify strengths that they don’t see in themselves, and assist staff with cultivating their skillsets."

“A snapshot of advice I would give for someone starting out in the field would be: Be open-minded. Be a sponge. Bring your creativity. Educate Yourself on Policies and Procedures. Build healthy, appropriate rapport with the youth. It’s okay to not know the answer to everything, ask questions. Structure and Consistency is key. With so many individuals coming in that are new to the field of juvenile justice and detention, these strategies are important to help staff to learn and grow."

"As a Treatment Manager, Floor Manager, and Shift Commander, I was always caught up in the day-to-day work (i.e., staff meetings, security rounds, responding to assistance calls, mediations, supervisions, programming, movement, youth progress meetings and the list went on and on). Journey Core Support Team (youth, unit staff, behavioral health staff, and JJICs) that I worked alongside came together and pulled off a Surprise Birthday Party right underneath my nose. I must say that I was highly impressed because my girls and the staff got away with keeping it a secret. Along with my favorite cake, favorite foods, balloons, and gifts, Journey youth wrote a thoughtful letter, made a beautiful birthday card, and presented it at the party. Tears were flowing but they were all out of joy. We that do this work often forget to celebrate and pour into ourselves; it was a special feeling to have my village celebrate me."

“Be open to receiving help/guidance from well-meaning people in their lives, i.e., teachers, coaches, other mentors. It’s okay to ask for help; it’s okay to be the person that wants to do the right thing; your mistakes don’t define you as a person and you too can have a fresh start. Strive to achieve your goals and if you fall down along the way; get up, dust yourself off and keep going!"

“You are the author of your own story. Whatever goals and aspirations that you have for yourself, you must first believe! Write it down and put it in a place where you can see it and reflect on it each and every day. I would also encourage youth to continue to build their rapport with their Credible Messengers and Mentors while in our care so that the trust factor and support is solid once they are released out of our custody. Lastly, I would provide sticky notes and have the youth write down three affirmations and post them on the mirrors or desk in their rooms and encourage the youth to repeat it and believe it before they start their day and before they close their eyes at night. This was a practice that I would encourage the youth to utilize once they transition back into their communities to remind them to never forget their value and their worth."

"I enjoy traveling, hiking, coffee shops, visiting record shops to casually peruse through cassette tapes and vinyl records, try different cuisines, as well as attend music and food festivals. Lastly, I enjoy working out and spending time with friends and family."