Voices of Justice: Transforming Holding Cells with Soft-Firm
A conversation with the Talitha Liu and Lexi Tsien, the architects redesigning holding cells into a flexible programming and community space at the Midtown Community Justice Center.
What started as part-time legal work as a brand new mom over 12 years ago has transformed into the role of program director for Sarah Reckess, who is leading and growing the Upstate New York office of the Center for Court Innovation. Based in Syracuse, Sarah’s team works within the court system and alongside communities throughout the Upstate New York region, from cities like Buffalo to rural communities east of Syracuse.
Whether in a court-based setting, after release from incarceration, or before people ever come into contact with the justice system, our approach to mental wellness focuses on identifying the individual needs of every person.
Manuel Lariño has been with the Center for Court Innovation for over 18 years. Now in his role as associate director of Placemaking and Workforce Development, Manuel supports the teams that operate Brownsville Community Justice Center’s placemaking and mobility-from-poverty initiatives, which focus on public safety, community organizing, and neighborhood revitalization.
