Model and Strategy
Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) is a Bay Area nonprofit working to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by providing justice-impacted youth with legal education, mentoring, and leadership development. Since 2000, FLY has designed programs to advance justice and opportunity that are shaped by youth voice and responsive to local systems and community needs.
FLY’s Peer Point program is an innovative restorative justice initiative designed and led by young people as an alternative to school suspensions and probation referrals. Launched in 2022, Peer Point aims to disrupt pathways to incarceration by intervening early—within schools—and centering healing, accountability, and community.
Peer Point replaces punitive disciplinary practices with structured opportunities for youth to take accountability, repair harm, and remain engaged in their education. At the heart of the program are Restorative Circles—peer-led spaces where participants reflect on the impact of their actions, strengthen their sense of identity and belonging, and build conflict resolution skills. Each young person referred to the program works with trained peer leaders and staff to develop an individualized restorative plan, which may include counseling, academic support, community service, and family engagement. Youth also participate in community-building sessions designed to increase prosocial behaviors and reduce recidivism.
“We don't focus on the deficits that young people have, which, to be frank, is what most systems focus on. We ask, what are their strengths? Coming with that perspective changes how a young person sees themself.”— Melissa Poling, Director of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties
In addition to direct service, Peer Point invests in youth leadership. Participants often return as Peer Circle facilitators or join the Youth Leadership Team, receiving stipends for their time and expertise. FLY also engages families and caregivers whenever possible, and supports broader systems change through training and partnerships with school staff, administrators, and law enforcement.
As demand grows—spurred in part by new state legislation encouraging restorative practices—FLY is preparing for expansion. The team is codifying Peer Point’s logic model and evaluation tools, and gathering early data on youth outcomes. By 2026, the organization aims to expand the program to a second county to deepen its impact across the Bay Area.
Impact
FLY’s Peer Point program is creating new pathways to success for young people at risk of disconnection from school and community. Since launching at Menlo-Atherton High School, the program has reached over 150 youth—primarily from East Palo Alto and Menlo Park—through restorative justice circles, individualized planning, and youth-led accountability structures. In the spring of 2024, students enrolled in Peer Point experienced a 38% decrease in total suspensions and an 11% reduction in suspension time. Referrals for suspension from teachers to administrators also declined, signaling a shift in school climate and adult-youth dynamics.
Each participant co-creates a Restorative Plan tailored to their personal goals—whether academic, social-emotional, or community-based. Some students pursue counseling, mentorship, or reconnect with school; others develop leadership skills through the arts, sports, or volunteer work. Evaluation data show promising early outcomes: 80-100% of participants report improved self-efficacy, stronger coping strategies, and deeper connection to their cultural identity and peers. Youth also highlight increased access to leadership opportunities and a stronger sense of belonging.
While Peer Point is still a young program, it builds on two decades of impact across FLY’s broader model of legal education, mentoring, and leadership development. Youth who complete FLY programs are up to six times less likely to be re-arrested or reenter the juvenile justice system. On average, over 90% of youth do not recidivate during their program year, and more than 80% achieve education milestones such as graduating or enrolling in post-secondary education. Over 90% report increased hope for their future.
Looking ahead, FLY is developing formal evaluation tools—including pre/post assessments and longitudinal tracking—to guide Peer Point’s growth. The organization has recently signed new partnerships with San Mateo High School, the Sequoia Union High School District, and the San Bruno Police Department. With growing demand and supportive policy conditions, Peer Point is well-positioned to expand its reach and further demonstrate the power of youth-led, restorative approaches to education and justice.
Leadership
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Artavia Berry
President & CEO