Our History

The Redirect Collective was born out of a simple yet profound belief: young people are brilliant and deserve safety, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive. Rooted in restorative justice and community care, we began as Charleston Alternative to Detention (Charleston ATD) and have evolved to meet the growing need for alternatives to juvenile detention in the Charleston Tri-County area.

Our journey began in 2016, when faith leaders and community members, inspired by restorative justice advocate Rubén Austria, challenged the reliance on juvenile detention. They envisioned an approach where communities—not courts or detention centers—nurture and heal their own.

After facing challenges including leadership transitions and the pandemic, the initiative reignited in late 2020. A diverse coalition of community leaders and advocates came together to build a new movement grounded in love, justice, and the voices of those most affected by juvenile justice policies. This led to the birth of The Redirect Collective.

With a foundation in love, justice, and the voices of those most affected by juvenile justice policies, we continue to develop and scale healing-centered, community-driven alternatives to detention. Led by Dennis Muhammad, we are committed to reshaping the future for youth, helping them redirect their lives toward healing, hope, and possibility, while strengthening the very communities that uplift them.