ABOUT US
“Kids could have no better guardian angel.”
- National Review
OUR MISSION
Gen Justice works to mend the child protection system and bring a permanent end to innocent children enduring violence.
OUR STORY
Founder Darcy Olsen has two decades of success in shaping laws including The Right To Try. But she considers the ten infants she fostered her most important work. After seeing the injustices facing abused kids, Olsen decided she needed to act. A single mom of four adopted kids, Darcy launched Gen Justice while cooking mac & cheese and with a foster baby in her arms.
WHAT WE DO
THE MEANS TO A MUCH BETTER END.
Our work is broad and far-reaching, resulting in life-changing impact. We work on a micro, macro and super-macro level. These three threads, bound and woven together, are the lifeline that will pull this generation up and end the violence.
MACRO
Changing public laws and policies to protect abandoned and abused kids. We work in our home state of Arizona to implement nonpartisan reforms, then share our work nationwide, helping local communities tailor reform to their needs.
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MICRO
Helping individual children in their court cases day in and day out in our Children’s Law Clinic, providing emergency legal assistance and counsel to expedite their safety and passage to family.
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SUPER-MACRO
Enforcing constitutional rights. Abused kids face an uphill battle for safety because they have second-class rights. Abusers have a right to counsel and public hearings; children have neither. We believe children are entitled to equal protection. Our public interest legal work seeks to vindicate the constitutional interests of children to be free of severe abuse and, when abandoned to the state, their interests in timely adoption.
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OUR LEADERSHIP
DARCY OLSEN
Founder & CEO
“We have newborns sleeping in offices,” the social worker told me. “If you could open a crib, we’d be thankful.” I couldn’t shake the image of newborns struggling under the glare of fluorescent lights. So, instead of fostering a teen as I’d planned, I left the hospital cradling an abandoned infant, meth-exposed. In a few short years, I’d taken home ten.
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REBECCA SMITH MASTERSON
Vice President & Chief Counsel
My foster son sifted through the possessions he had accumulated in his 13 years of state care. Next to the clothes that didn’t fit was a rainbow tower of backpacks. It took me a minute to understand. “Whenever you got moved to a new place, you got a new backpack?” “Yeah,” he shrugged, “Sometimes with a stuffed animal or school supplies.” I realized that at every stage of this child’s life, instead of meaningful help, instead of exiting foster care for the permanent family he needed, he got a backpack. I promised to change this.
ANN TREDWAY
Executive Director
Ann joined Gen Justice as a founding team member, offering her expertise in management, operations, and fundraising. Ann’s work honors the memory of her stillborn son, William. Ann believes all children should have the chance to grow up safe and loved.
LAURA MAJOR
Manager of Donor Relations
Laura brings twenty years of management, organizational and charitable fundraising experience to Gen Justice. She’s a lifelong proponent of individual rights and believes children, like adults, are born with inalienable rights.
ALESIA HANSEN
Paralegal
Alesia’s A+ research and organizational skills are the cornerstone of the Children’s Law Clinic. She triages the incoming cases and ensures that every child gets the representation she needs, when she needs it.
TARA GLASS
Director of Technology
Founder of GM Technology, tech expert Tara has served Gen Justice pro bono since its founding. Growing up, Tara witnessed the destructive impact of drug abuse on children in her family. She’s at the ready 24/7 for the kids of Gen Justice.
board of directors
William Coats
The Leona Group, LLC
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Alan P. Dye
Webster, Chamberlain & Bean
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Jack Fowler
National Review
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F. Phillips Giltner
Shamrock Foods
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Renee V. Giltner
CPA
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Sandy Leong
Sandy Leong Jewelry
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Celia McClelland
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Rob Nicoletti
WhyFor
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Darcy Olsen
Gen Justice
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Carrie Tynan
Adolph Coors Foundation
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FINANCIALS
GuideStar has awarded Gen Justice with its Platinum Seal of Transparency every year since inception.