Adam Foss
Prosecutor Impact
Washington, DC USA
"I have this privilege and power because of the letters behind my name. This [doctoral] degree is a massive sword in the fight for the communities that we care about."
Career Roadmap
Adam's work combines: Law, Non-Profit Organizations, and Upholding a Cause and Belief
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Watching people fail all around me and succumb to the stress was really difficult, but it was empowering to see that at the end of every month I was still there. I used that to motivate and push me through.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Developmental Biology and Embryology
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Doctorate
Law
Suffolk University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
He was adopted as a baby from Columbia by an Irish-American family in Massachusetts—grew up as one of the only people of color in his small town.
2.
Was arrested when he was 19 for selling marijuana, but received little punishment due to the fact that his father was a white police officer—says, “That was the most unjust thing I’ve ever seen.”
3.
Is a first-generation college student—calls the experience “difficult, but empowering.”
4.
Originally went to college to be a doctor, but as an undergrad he took a class on restorative justice called “The Science of Violence”, which inspired him to change course and pursue law.
5.
He took an internship at a small municipal court in an impoverished neighborhood of Boston known for having a dangerous reputation; knew then that he wanted to work in the criminal justice system.
6.
Says that his main motivation in going to work is helping people stay out of prison, which is in contrast to the typical view people have of prosecutors.
7.
He is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform and reinventing the role of the prosecutor in order to end mass incarceration.
8.
Was an Assistant District Attorney for over 10 years in Boston and is the founder of Prosecutor Impact, a nonprofit with the mission of retraining prosecutors to improve community safety.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You're not going to be able to finish law school.
How I responded:
Watching people fail all around me and succumb to the stress was really difficult, but it was empowering to see that at the end of every month I was still there. I used that to motivate and push me through.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I got caught selling pot when I was in high school.
I am the first in my immediate family to attend college/university.
I'm an immigrant to this country. I was born in Columbia and adopted by an American family.