“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.”-Marian Wright Edelman This is one of my favorite quotes and something that my mother has instilled in me from childhood. Growing up, my brother and I were taught that giving back to the community is a way of life. It wasn’t something to only be done on special occasions, but it was the way that we should strive to live our lives. I support my community by helping the unhoused. I am one of the founders of ‘The Just Because Project.’ The goal of the project is to collect items for the unhoused, put together ’Just Because’ bags, and distribute them throughout the streets of Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Through this project I have had the opportunity to see and speak with our unhoused community. I listen to their needs and try to provide those specific items on the next delivery. Most importantly, I just listen. My goal is to make them feel like they are not alone. Their lives matter and I see them. It has been a life-changing experience. I further help the unhoused through the non-profit organization, So Others Might Eat (SOME). Being a volunteer with SOME, I have worked in their soup kitchen directly feeding and serving the hungry and unhoused and I participate in their annual Trot for Hunger to raise money. Lastly, through my service as a Union Leader at my school, I make lunches for the Elizabeth House which is a local soup kitchen. In the future, I would like to become an Attorney and later, a Judge. I am interested in law because I have been taught to be the change that you want to see in the world. Sadly, the scales of justice have not always been fair to the underserved communities. I would like to assist legally with those persons who feel their voice has been diminished. Those who are wrongfully incarcerated. It seems to be a lot of restitution these days to those who do not belong in jail and are proven innocent at a later date. However, a lump sum of money does not eradicate the trauma of an innocent person serving jail time. I would like to work from the inside out by advocating for these people; and later, by becoming a Judge to ensure the scale is even. Additionally, when I become a Judge, I would like to offer free legal advice to those who are unable to afford an Attorney. Serving my community through giving back to others and doing my part to fix a broken legal system is important to me because service defines who I am. Serving will also ensure that ‘my rent’ for being here on earth, is paid in full. Justin T. Owens

“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.”-Marian Wright Edelman This is one of my favorite quotes and something that my mother has instilled in me from childhood. Growing up, my brother and I were taught that giving back to the community is a way of life. It wasn’t something to only be done on special occasions, but it was the way that we should strive to live our lives. I support my community by helping the unhoused. I am one of the founders of ‘The Just Because Project.’ The goal of the project is to collect items for the unhoused, put together ’Just Because’ bags, and distribute them throughout the streets of Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Through this project I have had the opportunity to see and speak with our unhoused community. I listen to their needs and try to provide those specific items on the next delivery. Most importantly, I just listen. My goal is to make them feel like they are not alone. Their lives matter and I see them. It has been a life-changing experience. I further help the unhoused through the non-profit organization, So Others Might Eat (SOME). Being a volunteer with SOME, I have worked in their soup kitchen directly feeding and serving the hungry and unhoused and I participate in their annual Trot for Hunger to raise money. Lastly, through my service as a Union Leader at my school, I make lunches for the Elizabeth House which is a local soup kitchen. In the future, I would like to become an Attorney and later, a Judge. I am interested in law because I have been taught to be the change that you want to see in the world. Sadly, the scales of justice have not always been fair to the underserved communities. I would like to assist legally with those persons who feel their voice has been diminished. Those who are wrongfully incarcerated. It seems to be a lot of restitution these days to those who do not belong in jail and are proven innocent at a later date. However, a lump sum of money does not eradicate the trauma of an innocent person serving jail time. I would like to work from the inside out by advocating for these people; and later, by becoming a Judge to ensure the scale is even. Additionally, when I become a Judge, I would like to offer free legal advice to those who are unable to afford an Attorney. Serving my community through giving back to others and doing my part to fix a broken legal system will ensure that ‘my rent’ for being on earth, is paid in full. Justin T. Owens