Cayden Brown is an American child rights defender and award-winning activist, acclaimed for his impact on juvenile justice at a notably young age. His work has been featured in Forbes and TIME, and his voice heard before the world’s largest platforms, including the United Nations.
Cayden Brown Juvenile Justice
“The world’s most influential juvenile justice advocate.”
Cayden Brown Juvenile Justice
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At just 16, Cayden was appointed as a Juvenile Defense Attorney for the Oakland County Teen Court diversion program, working alongside a team of attorneys and judges to reroute youth from the traditional criminal process, gaining widespread recognition for his unbroken series of courtroom victories. He earned his first formal legal credential from Harvard Law School, studying the interplay of race and constitutional law through America’s Reconstruction era. His work not only diverts youth from the traditional adjudication but also prevents recidivism.
By the age of 13, Cayden Brown had already amassed a total of four monumental awards, including the Educational Achievement Award in 2020, signed by the 46th U.S. President. He was issued a Special Tribute by the 103rd Michigan Legislature, signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and members of the House and Senate. His artistic activism also earned him three consecutive NPTA Reflections Awards at local, district, and state levels. On May 17, 2024, Cayden made history as the youngest recipient of the ‘Youth Justice Advocate Award’ from the Michigan Center for Youth Justice.
Cayden is a powerful speaker who has commanded some of the world’s most respected platforms. Consistently making history when he steps on stage, Cayden recently became the youngest speaker at both the United Nations headquarters and for Colin Kaepernick and Nike’s Know Your Rights Camp, where he led the event’s legal segment previously held by civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. His boldness in addressing these critical issues has earned him global recognition as a leading figure in child rights—all before the age of 18.
He’s the founder & CEO of The Trespass Project, a global nonprofit that leverages modern technology to help children around the world understand their nations’ legal systems, empowering them to boldly seize positions of power. He has held top roles, including Statewide Political Mobilization Leader at Dream for America and campaign intern for Varlo. A lifelong activist, he has been a member of over a dozen advisory committees, including the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners and the Children’s Foundation. Cayden has leveraged his leadership, communications, policy, and equity skills on broad justice issues from legal education to juvenile justice, bridging representational gaps across various sectors.
Venturing into the legislative arena at just 17 years old, Cayden joined America’s most prominent youth-led organizations, including GenZ for Change, March for Our Lives, and the Sunrise Movement, to unveil a bold agenda at a press conference in Washington, D.C., petitioning the Presidential office to “Finish the Job.” Brown’s nonprofit played a crucial role in championing criminal justice reform within this agenda.
Among the numerous unprecedented accolades he has received for his work, Cayden has made several media appearances. He has been featured in Forbes and TIME, appeared in a compelling interview on NBC Detroit’s Channel 4 News, and was a special guest on The Amanda Seales’ Show aired on Urban One and iHeart Radio. Cayden graced the cover of The Michigan Chronicle’s September 2023 issue, was featured in Black Enterprise Magazine, and spotlighted in the December issue of The Official Black Magazine. At just sixteen, he was named among the Top 100 National Black Lawyers and made history as the first Detroit Changemakers Spotlight for Outlier Media.
Brown’s daring, youthful lens challenges the confines of traditional law, signaling a seismic shift in the landscape of justice. He’s not just participating early in the dialogue of justice; he is leading the conversation. With each case, project, and speech, Brown is writing a new chapter in history, where legal entry is democratized and justice is an actualized principle.
Ultimately, Cayden is a proud Black man of faith who believes that “legal literacy equals liberation”. You can follow him on social media @TheCaydenBrown on Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin & TikTok. He resides in the Detroit Metropolitan area with his family and fellow kin in movement.
Cayden epitomizes a revolutionary era in advocacy, where all become stewards of change—regardless of age.
