Our Mission
The Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project (YASP) is building a youth-led movement to end the practice of trying and incarcerating young people as adults. Through its work in the Philadelphia jails, YASP provides space for incarcerated young people to express themselves creatively and to develop as leaders both within and beyond the prison walls. Young people who have been through the adult court system are at the forefront of YASP, leading the movement to keep young people out of adult prisons and to create new possibilities for youth around the city.
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CHECK OUT YASP'S NEW YOUTH PARTICIPATORY DEFENSE HUB!
In April 2019, YASP launched the nation's first youth-focused participatory defense hub. The hub meets every Tuesday, 4:30-6:30PM, at the The YASP office (924 Cherry St, 5th floor). ** IMPORTANT UPDATE** During the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be meeting virtually on Zoom. You can join the hub any Tuesday, 4:30-6:30PM, by logging on here: Join Zoom Meeting here: https://zoom.us/j/691514592 Meeting ID: 691 514 592 To dial in by phone: Call-in number: 929-436-2866 Meeting ID: 691 514 592 The hub is a youth-led space where any young people with open court cases - or their families - can come to get support, talk through how the process works, and think about their next steps and strategies to get the best possible outcome for their future. Spread the word! Call the YASP office with any questions - 267-571-9277 - or email us at Info@yasproject.com 
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Watch YASP's films, Stolen Dreams I & Stolen Dreams II!
Stolen Dreams: The Impacts of Trying and Locking Up Young People as Adults Our first "Stolen Dreams" film features the stories of young people who founded YASP, and their experiences being in adult jail and coming home from the adult system. It also includes interviews with young people in one of the city's adult jails, as well as judges, teachers, and social workers who work directly with youth who are charged as adults. Click here to watch Stolen Dreams I. Stolen Dreams II: Breaking the Cycle of Youth Trauma, Violence & Imprisonment "Stolen Dreams II " is a very captivating film and it holds your attention. We take you into the community and talk about the violence that's going on and how we can find better ways to deal with youth violence instead of locking them away, which causes worse problems . The film includes powerful motivational speakers, including YASP staff and allies. The documentary is a great film and it would open your eyes on a lot of problems going on in our communities. You can watch Stolen Dreams II here. 
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Dashaun Harden, YASP supervisor and facilitator, speaks to the students assembled at Paul Roberson HS
Check out coverage of YASP's work in the Philadelphia Citizen .
That’s one of the issues with our communities in general,” says YASP co-founder and co-director Josh Glenn, who’d also been arrested and held at both youth and adult facilities. “A lot of folks are taught not to cry, not to show their emotions, and I think that bottles it up and creates conflict.” 
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All donations make it possible for YASP to employ formerly incarcerated young people and train them as organizers and leaders of the organization. Help us build a youth-led movement to keep young people out of adult prisons! Click here to make a donation to make this important work possible, or send a check to: YASP 924 Cherry Street, 5th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 You can contact us at info@yasproject.com or 267-571-YASP with any questions. |
