DR. KATHI ELLIOTT IS CEO OF GWEN’S GIRLS. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
152 in 2019, to just 11 in 2024
No one likes standing in front of a judge.
Especially if that person is a teenager.
The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned exclusively that the number of Black girls in Pittsburgh Public Schools who are being referred to juvenile court has decreased greatly over the past five years, from 152 in 2019, to just 11 in 2024.
Gwen’s Girls, the organization in the Pittsburgh region dedicated to helping girls, especially African American girls, reach their highest potential, released the data in a 2025 Black Girls Equity Alliance Equity Report, provided to the Courier. One of Gwen’s Girls’ primary objectives is to keep teen girls out of the juvenile justice system, either by proactive measures such as mentorship and education, or lobbying for a concerted effort with PPS and other school districts to refer girls to other places besides a courtroom.
Of all the Black teen girls referred to juvenile court in 2019 in Allegheny County, 40 percent of the referrals came from PPS police. By 2024, the percentage from PPS police dropped drastically to 6 percent.
Dr. Kathi Elliott, CEO of Gwen’s Girls, was ecstatic about the drastic drop in the referrals to juvenile court, when she spoke with the Courier exclusively, Oct. 7.
THE HONOREES. (NOT PICTURED: BLAYRE HOLMES DAVIS) (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
“Once we showed them (Pittsburgh Public Schools) the numbers, they recognized that’s not what they wanted and it needed to change,” Dr. Elliott said when the number of referrals of Black girls to juvenile probation (court) was more than 150. “The biggest change is the buy-in and the policy changes from the top down, from the superintendent’s office to school principals. And they recognize the disparities that happen between different schools, the code of conduct is not uniform across the district; each school building has its own code of conduct, and that, in and of itself, can be disproportionate to Black youth.”
Dr. Elliott referred to Pittsburgh Obama Academy as an example. The school’s principal, Yalonda Colbert, has worked to bring down the number of Black girls in the school being referred to juvenile court.
“Addressing behaviors and not criminalizing those behaviors has been key,” Dr. Elliott said of Colbert’s approach.
In the 2025 Black Girls Equity Alliance Equity Report, Colbert was featured, stating that she will “take a cuss out,” meaning that she isn’t necessarily going to “throw a girl into the system” over something like that.
“It demonstrates a leader who understands adolescent misbehaviors or challenges are not cause for condemnation,” the BGEA’s report read.
Referrals to the juvenile court for Black girls at Obama has sharply declined, as Colbert challenged her teachers to take a different approach to classroom discipline.
“Principal Colbert stressed her belief that a principal’s primary responsibility is to ensure her students ‘have a safe space dropped drastically to 6 percent.
Dr. Kathi Elliott, CEO of Gwen’s Girls, was ecstatic about the drastic drop in the referrals to juvenile court, when she spoke with the Courier exclusively, Oct. 7.
“Once we showed them (Pittsburgh Public Schools) the numbers, they recognized that’s not what they wanted and it needed to change,” Dr. Elliott said when the number of referrals of Black girls to juvenile probation (court) was more than 150. “The biggest change is the buy-in and the policy changes from the top down, from the superintendent’s office to school principals. And they recognize the disparities that happen between different schools, the code of conduct is not uniform across the district; each school building has its own code of conduct, and that, in and of itself, can be disproportionate to Black youth.”
DR. KATHI ELLIOTT WITH STATE REP. LA’TASHA D. MAYES
J SYLVIA FIELDS, RETIRED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDEN HALL FOUNDATION, RECEIVED THE ESTEEMED GWENDOLYN J. ELLIOTT INSTITUTE LEGACY MAKER AWARD.
HONOREE STATE SENATOR JAY COSTA
HONOREE MALESIA DUNN
