The Virgin Islands Justice Initiative will host its third Annual Champions of Advocacy Donor Reception on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bluebeard’s Castle on St. Thomas. The reception is expected to be an evening full of live music and mingling and will highlight the organization’s prior accomplishments and plans for the future.
What is the Virgin Islands Justice Initiative?
Formed in June of 2022 by attorneys Alex Golubitisky and Casey Payton, the V.I. Justice Initiative is a 501(c) (3) legal education and defense fund. They are a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal representation and education to underprivileged individuals in the territory with a distinct focus on economic justice, according to their website.
“We have this wonderful base of supporters here in the Virgin Islands, and over the past two years we have really been growing and at a very fast pace,” cofounder Payton told The Source when describing how the organization has flourished since its formation.
V.I. Justice Initiative’s 2024 Accomplishments
To achieve continued growth, the organization began applying for funding and, per their 2024 Annual Report, were awarded “$7,000 from the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts; $100,000 appropriation from the Government of the Virgin Islands; $92,972.34 from the U.S. Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and $20,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods through the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission.”
Thanks to the support of local donors, in 2024, the V.I. Justice Initiative was able to offer free legal representation to 67 individuals and managed to expunge 28 criminal records through its Clean Slate Program successfully. In October 2024, the V.I. Justice Initiative received several local and federal government awards to support these programs through fiscal year 2025.
The V.I. Justice Initiative has also notably dedicated a great deal of time to its Teen Education and Criminal Deterrence Project, “Know Your Rights.” This program aims to educate the youth on understanding the economic impact of their personal decisions. “Criminal behavior can make it hard to get a good paying job, to go to college, or to get housing, so we’re giving kids real and honest answers as to how criminal behavior can affect their lives,“ Payton told the Source.
Third Annual Champions of Advocacy Reception
At this year’s annual Champions of Advocacy Reception, the V.I. Initiative is looking to thank those who have supported the organization from the very start and who continue to do so, but they are also welcoming any and all individuals in the community who are curious to learn more about the crucial and valuable work that they are doing for the local community.
Tickets for next week’s reception are $125 and can be purchased in advance or at the event. It is requested that those who wish to offer support but cannot attend in person consider donating a ticket for a young lawyer. The ticket includes two complimentary glasses of wine, along with hors d’oeuvres. Additionally, there will be live entertainment by St. John’s duo Eva & Mark Music, and touching testimonials by members of the aforementioned Clean Slate Program.
The V.I. Justice Initiative is set to meet its goals for 2025 as it works to fulfill the organization’s motto, “Planting seeds for community-driven advocacy.”
Those interested in attending this year’s reception are asked to RSVP to events@vijustice.org or by calling 340-774-6504.
For further information on the V.I. Justice Initiative, please visit https://www.vijustice.org/.
