Too many approaches to dismantling the cradle-to-prison pipeline rely on top-down directives and adult-driven policies and practices, while failing to seek input from the youth most impacted. Our program is innovative in its centering of the experiences, voices, wisdom, and knowledge of teens intimately familiar with the inner workings of  the juvenile justice system. The SEED Institute provides opportunities to those most impacted by the harmful systems, mentoring them to leverage their expertise to change them.