From now until Sunday, Philadelphia’s Cherry Street Pier is home to an art installation in which young people who have served time in prison are the focus. NBC10’s Rosemary Connors shows us the message they want to convey.
Steve Volk & Julie Christie, Resolve Philly, Metro Philadelphia •
Usually, a stranger called Lexi Andino on her cellphone — “They would just tell me I’m getting a new caseworker.”
Andino, now 25, received that call throughout her 11 years in foster care. “I would guess it was 15 or 20 caseworkers I had. I stopped counting.”
Philadelphia, PA - May 18, 2023 - Mural Arts Philadelphia and Performing Statistics, in collaboration with Juvenile Law Center, Care, Not Control, and the Youth Art and Self Empowerment Project, are thrilled to announce the launch of Freedom Constellations, a groundbreaking project that combines monumental art installations, augmented reality animations, and immersive exhibitions to envision a future where Philadelphia's youth are free, safe, and thriving.
On Wednesday, the Juvenile Law Center’s annual Leadership Prize was awarded to outstanding individuals working in the field of law, government, the arts, media, entertainment, sports, business, or any other sector — who are fighting for the rights and well-being of youth in the child welfare and justice systems.
Dr. Peter Leone is Professor Emeritus of Special Education in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education at the University of Maryland, and serves as a member of the Juvenile Services Education Program Board for the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools for 12 years. Dr. Leone has spent almost 50 years working to support the well-being and educational rights of youth with lived experience in the child welfare and juvenile legal systems.
James Baldwin’s quote, “Our crown has already been bought and paid for. All we have to do is wear it” was interpreted by Shaiheed Days, Youth Move Philadelphia Coordinator, as “Our experience is already, you know. They’ve already spoken for themselves that we were the ones for folks to listen to.”
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