The House DC is a nonprofit organization located in Anacostia, a vibrant neighborhood in southeast Washington, D.C. with a strong sense of community. Like many urban neighborhoods, it also faces significant challenges including high crime rates, pervasive poverty, and widespread drug use among youth. Their mission is “to transform and empower at-risk youth, their families, and their neighborhoods by breaking cycles and building futures of hope through the love of Jesus.” This mission is carried out through the dedication of long-term staff, the financial support of local churches, and intentional strategies enacted to make The House an appealing and inviting place […]

Dionntai Holyfield is a 2026 graduate of Wheaton College, where he studied Psychology and Anthropology. He graduated summa cum laude and was the 2026 recipient of the J. Richard Chase Award of Merit. At the age of 16, Dionntai was convicted of a felony and tried as an adult, receiving an 18-year sentence in Ohio. He was released two years early in 2022 at the age of 31.  Naomi Thompson, a sophomore Urban Studies major at Wheaton College, leads a ministry at a local juvenile detention facility. She sat down with Dionntai to hear his story. This is Part 2 of […]

Dionntai Holyfield is a 2026 graduate of Wheaton College, where he studied Psychology and Anthropology. He graduated summa cum laude and was the 2026 recipient of the J. Richard Chase Award of Merit. At the age of 16, Dionntai was convicted of a felony and tried as an adult, receiving an 18-year sentence in Ohio. He was released two years early in 2022 at the age of 31.  Naomi Thompson, a sophomore Urban Studies major at Wheaton College, leads a ministry at a local juvenile detention facility. She sat down with Dionntai to hear his story. This is Part 1 of […]

Being in a new environment always carries challenges, but in the juvenile justice system those challenges are amplified. Since his admission to a youth center, Johnson* struggled greatly with anxiety. He was not only the newest member of the program, but also a different race from the rest of the young men, making him a target. Rather than give in to their demands, Johnson had been involved in a couple of altercations, none of which he knew how to handle well. The situation left him fearful to even leave his room.   What Johnson needed was not simply behavioral management or a […]

In September 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act (D.C. CRIMES Act) by a vote of 240-179. One of the D.C. Crimes Act’s provisions is a redefinition of who counts as a youth offender in the nation’s capital. Right now, the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) in D.C. extends youth offender status to individuals up to age 24, which allows judges to give out sentences with the offender’s developmental level in mind and makes it legally possible for youth offenders to clear their permanent record.  The D.C. CRIMES Act would not eliminate […]