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 and create a world without youth incarceration. Through our 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.
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.
Healing Futures is Philly’s first ever pre-charge, youth-focused restorative justice diversion program. This program diverts young people’s cases from the courts to a restorative justice process, prior to any charges being filed.
We are a coalition of young people and youth advocates working to end youth incarceration. Together, we’ve created a vision for, and action steps towards, ending youth incarceration in Pennsylvania once and for all.
Repeal Pennsylvania laws that allow young people to be prosecuted as adults and incarcerated in adult jails and prisons.
YASP’s workshops are not just a place to make artwork but they also serve as a opportunity for self-expression, personal development and healing.
The Youth Hub Fellowship is a 6-month paid-fellowship for any young person who has been directly impacted by the criminal justice system.
