Aaron Toleafoa, Co-Executive Director & Co-Founder
aaron@thelostandfound.institute
Aaron began his work in juvenile “justice” reform in 2017 centering on reimagining the way young people are treated while inside juvenile facilities like the one he’s currently in.
He has used his voice to raise awareness and push to implement changes in areas that range from facility commissary, all the way to state laws in Washington, and onto a national level. Aaron served as an executive board member for the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, CJJ, in which he was the chairman for the youth engagement group known as the Emerging Leaders Committee, ELC for four years. His efforts have led to several legislative reforms in Washington State, including SB 6160 (also known as JR to 25). The majority of his work has been completed in the form of public speaking and community organizing projects.
In May 2021, Aaron testified before congress in a hearing conducted by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Experts in legal and justice reform, including Aaron, were invited to speak on the juvenile justice system.
"Since the age of 15 years old and going through the system, I've learned that the system was created for us, but the thought of us being involved in the creation itself had not occurred," Aaron told members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. "I say 'us' directed at people of color and people from poor communities who are disproportionately impacted by the system."