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 Celebrating a Change-Maker: Christopher Lambert’s Impact at the Connecting 4 Justice Conference 2025

September 30, 2025 0Comments

 Celebrating a Change-Maker: Christopher Lambert’s Impact at the Connecting 4 Justice Conference 2025

 Learn more about Chris’s inspiring work at Rose City J.A.M. and the Oregon Justice Network.
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Celebrating a Change-Maker

The Connecting 4 Justice International Conference is committed to fostering transformative dialogues and innovative solutions to challenge systemic injustices. This year, one of the most compelling voices on the stage is Christopher (Chris) Lambert—a credible messenger whose lived experience and unwavering dedication are fueling community upliftment.
Chris Lambert

A Passionate Advocate with Deep Roots

Chris Lambert’s journey is one of resilience, leadership, and purpose. As Regional Program Services Director of the Oregon Justice Network (OJN), he works tirelessly to advocate for those impacted by the criminal legal system, many of whom are directly at risk of incarceration. OJN is staffed by individuals with firsthand experience of the justice system, and under Chris’s leadership, it exemplifies empowerment through lived experience

Chris Lambert Connecting 4 Justice

“Chris has been dedicated to building community and partnering with local organizations to help reduce violence in our neighborhoods.”

Kyle Hedquist, Policy Analyst

Night and Day: Mentorship, Prevention, and Community Building

By day, Chris drives strategic advocacy and policy reform to address the root causes of incarceration and community harm. By night, he leads OJN’s Rose City J.A.M. (Justice, Advocacy & Mentorship), a flagship youth engagement and violence-prevention program rooted in Portland’s Black and Brown communities.
 
Rose City J.A.M. provides real talk, mentorship, healing circles, and leadership development. It’s more than a program—it’s a pathway to stability, legacy, and hope. Designed for the community, by the community, it embodies the power of grassroots empowerment.

Night Sports: Community Safety and Connection

Chris also leads Night Sports, an innovative late-night program featuring basketball, music, a girls room, a learning corner and wellness resources. Operating during high-risk evening hours, Night Sports creates a safe, fun, and empowering environment while serving as a vital violence-prevention tool.
More than just recreation, it builds trust and connection—linking young people with mentors, barbers, mental health professionals, and peers. This holistic approach not only keeps youth off the streets but also strengthens community bonds and nurtures lasting relationships.
 
Chris Lambert Night Sports

Empowering Youth Toward a Brighter Future

Chris believes every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive. From organizing back-to-school drives to developing leadership programs, his daily work is rooted in evidence-based practices that build resilience, foster social-emotional skills, and create supportive environments. His ultimate goal is ambitious yet clear: a future where Portland experiences zero incidents of youth violence.

“What Chris has accomplished in such a short amount of time is nothing short of amazing. His passion for giving back to his community is truly inspiring. Chris’ story, his energy, and his drive to help others motivates me—and so many others—to want to do more.”
Robin Davidson
Creating Better Neighbors
“Chris was an influential leader while incarcerated, so it is little surprise to see that as he shed the limitations of confinement, he quickly rose as an impactful voice within the community. He works hard to help both those returning from incarceration and at-risk youth from making the choices that lead to prison or death. It is inspiring to watch Chris tirelessly give back.”
Mark Wilson
Oregon Justice Resource Center

Why Chris Lambert’s Voice Matters

At Connecting 4 Justice Conference 2025, Chris’s presence underscores the power of community-driven solutions, authentic mentorship, and systemic change. His lived experience enriches discussions on breaking incarceration cycles and creating pathways of growth for marginalized youth.
By amplifying voices like Chris’s, the conference champions a more empathetic, inclusive, and just society—one where barriers are dismantled, opportunities are expanded, and futures are reclaimed.
 Learn more about Chris’s inspiring work at Rose City J.A.M. and the Oregon Justice Network.
 

Show up. Speak up. Partner up. Let’s make justice real—together.

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Author

  • kayla victor, connecting 4 justice

    Kayla is a high-energy business leader with over 25 years of experience. She works with companies ranging from small business to Fortune 50. Kayla is also the director of the Connecting 4 Justice International Conference. It plays a pivotal role as a forum to bring together families of prisoners, educators, employers, individuals with past incarceration experiences, law enforcement and professionals connected to the carceral system.
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