About Brian
Brian E. Foster is a former youth court participant (Chester High School, 2007-2011) and current youth court educator and advocate who has collaborated with the Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies since he was in high school, helping expand youth courts across Delaware County and Pennsylvania. A frequent presenter at PCSS, Mr. Foster brings a unique perspective to the organization as civic education under Act 35 becomes a significant focus of PCSS. Youth courts are student run alternatives to juvenile justice and school disciplinary systems. Students are trained by lawyers, law students, law and justice professionals and teachers to perform all court functions (judge, bailiff, jurors, etc.). Positive peer pressure helps offenders reflect on their behavior, recognize that actions have consequences, and accept responsibility. While still in high school, Mr. Foster and his peers changed the model employed in the Chester High youth court from one involving prosecutors and defense attorneys to its current form with a single youth advocate who presents the case to the peer jury.
Mr. Foster has worn many hats during a professional career that has seen him bridge the art and justice worlds. An accomplished disc jockey, Mr. Foster has worked with some of the top young performers in the Philadelphia region at night while working to promote youth courts in various settings during the day. He advocates for justice in both worlds and his teaching is informed by his artistic expression. Mr. Foster’s commitment to public service and to educating the next generation of citizens is deeply rooted in a Chester family that has struggled with concerns of poverty and justice. Mr. Foster has chosen a path of civic engagement in tackling those issues. He completed a two-year service as a member of the Pennsylvania Youth Court Advisory Committee on the Uses and Effects of Youth Courts in the Juvenile Justice and Educational Systems, helping the Joint State Government Commission of the Pennsylvania General Assembly come up with its Youth Court report. Mr. Foster serves on the Philadelphia Region Youth Court Advisory Board and is a trainer for Project PEACE and LEAP-Kids.
Mr. Foster was honored for his community service by the Pennsylvania Bar Association with the PBA’s Youth Court Champion Award.
Future of Social Studies
The future of social studies in Pennsylvania must make social studies relevant to the student I was and to the students I see as I train young people of all ages about youth court. Youth court training can be that link. Not only are youth courts a steppingstone to combating school to prison pipelines, they are also an investment in students’ lives to challenge themselves, their peers and their communities outside of what obligates them, creating a new sense of responsibility...Restorative Responsibility! I have seen lives transformed by youth court participation, for both the members of the court and the young people brought before the court as respondents after violating the school norms. I was one such student respondent who graduated from harmful behavior to leadership of my Chester High youth court. As I work with young people, I see the power of exposing young people to leadership roles in their own governance.