The Citizen Justice Initiative at the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies is sponsored by the Strategic Investment Fund of the University of Virginia. CJI conducts programs, workshops, and engagement opportunities pertaining to African-American studies, public history and digital storytelling in Charlottesville and the commonwealth of Virginia. The CJI's annual summer internship program exposes student assistants from Charlottesville-area high schools and undergraduates from the University of Virginia to academic research and experiential learning opportunities. Deborah E. McDowell is the director and principal investigator of the Citizen Justice Initiative. James Perla is the project's managing director.