Proposed Project: Website Redesign and Digital Strategy Support

CJCJ seeks to work with a skilled Taproot volunteer to support the redesign and improvement of our organizational website. The primary goal of this project is to create a more user-friendly, accessible, and visually engaging website that better communicates our research, policy advocacy, and impact to key audiences, including policymakers, media, funders, and community partners.

With support from a volunteer partner, we hope to complete the following tasks:

Assess our current website structure, content organization, and user experience

Provide recommendations for improved site architecture, navigation, and accessibility

Support the design of updated page layouts or wireframes for key sections (e.g., homepage, research, policy impact)

Advise on best practices for presenting data, reports, and justice-focused content in a clear and compelling way

The volunteer’s role would be primarily advisory and strategic, working collaboratively with CJCJ staff over a limited number of weeks. This support would help us clarify our digital strategy and establish a strong foundation for a future full website redesign. By strengthening our website, CJCJ will be better positioned to share evidence-based research, influence public discourse, and advance equitable juvenile and criminal justice reform.

This project will directly support CJCJ’s mission to advance equitable juvenile and criminal justice policy. Our website is a primary platform for sharing research, policy analysis, and advocacy that informs lawmakers, journalists, practitioners, and the public. Improving its design and usability will significantly increase the reach, clarity, and effectiveness of our work.

By strengthening our website, this project will help translate complex justice research and data into accessible, engaging content that can be more easily understood and used by decision-makers and community stakeholders. A clearer and more compelling digital presence will amplify CJCJ’s voice in policy conversations, increase public awareness of justice system inequities, and support advocacy efforts that promote fair and humane reforms.

The impact of this work extends beyond our organization. A more effective website will improve access to trusted information for communities, families, and advocates working to reform the justice system. Volunteers supporting this project will play a meaningful role in strengthening a public-facing resource that informs policy, elevates community voices, and contributes to lasting systemic change.

CJCJ is well prepared to set this project up for success and be a strong pro bono partner. We have internal leadership buy-in for this work and a designated staff lead who will serve as the primary point of contact, coordinate feedback, and ensure timely communication throughout the project. Key stakeholders are aligned on the goals and scope of the website redesign, and we have clarity around the decisions that can be made during the engagement.

In preparation, we have reviewed our current website, identified priority pages and audiences, and gathered relevant materials, including existing content, research publications, branding assets, and examples of peer organizations’ websites. We are prepared to share these materials early in the project to support an efficient onboarding process for the volunteer.

Project outcomes will be implemented directly by our team. Recommendations, wireframes, and design guidance developed through this engagement will inform immediate content and usability improvements, as well as guide a future full website redesign. We are committed to acting on the volunteer’s recommendations and sustaining the impact of this work beyond the Taproot engagement. We value collaborative partnerships and will respect the volunteer’s time by being responsive, prepared, and focused throughout the project.