Founder of More Than Words receives national honor

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges recently honored Jodi Rosenbaum of More Than Words for her service to justice-involved youth at the organization’s National Conference on Juvenile Justice in Boston. 

“I am honored to receive the NCJFCJ Judith Horgan Award on behalf of the incredible staff and young people at More Than Words,” said Rosenbaum.

“We are excited to honor More Than Words for their commitment to empowering young people facing adversity.” said Joey Orduña Hastings, NCJFCJ CEO. “By providing hands-on business experience, leadership opportunities, and a pathway to success, Jodi and her incredible team are transforming lives and creating lasting change.”

“More Than Words has created incredible opportunities for young people who have put themselves out there and done terrific work,” said Horgan. “Jodi and her team’s impact extends beyond the youth they serve – it strengthens the entire community. We are proud to recognize their dedication and the example they set for future generations.”

More Than Words’ location in Waltham at 56 Felton St. includes a store selling books and gifts as well as space to receive and process donated books and clothing. The organization is a social enterprise empowering youth in the foster care system, court-involved, experiencing homelessness or out of school, to take charge of their lives by helping lead a business. 

The Waltham site is one of three operated by More Than Words. The others are in Boston and Cambridge. For more than 20 years, Jodi Rosenbaum, the nonprofit’s founder and CEO, has grown and led the organization from a pilot with four young men selling used books in a 150-square-foot office, to serving over 330 youth annually across its three locations.

Beyond job training, young people engage with case management, life skills training, long-term career services and deep supportive services helping to navigate the child welfare and justice systems. Rosenbaum and her team show up in court alongside young people, partner with agencies on prevention and diversion programming, and advocate for systemic changes that will support emerging adults to end cycles of criminalization, trauma and homelessness.

Rosenbaum received the fourth-annual Judith Horgan Award for Exemplary Service on Behalf of Children and Families in the Court System on March 18.

Since 2022, the NCJFCJ has awarded the Judith Horgan Award for Exemplary Service on Behalf of Children and Families in the Court System. The award is named after Judith Horgan of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a former NCJFCJ board member, for her drive and dedicated service to elevate the voice of children and families in the court system.
More than 4 million families are impacted by the work of the NCJFCJ every year.