Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project - Current Events

Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project

yasp partners on youth bail out

1/7/2019

In December 2018, the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, the Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project and the Defender Association of Philadelphia came together to organize a youth bail out. We do not believe youth should be held in adult jail pretrial - and we wanted young people to be home with their families for holidays and events that happen in their life. Over several weeks, we raised $47,267 to post bail for four young people held in adult facilities in Philadelphia.

The Youth Bailout is important because we brought youth home to their families instead of being locked up in a adult jail, getting treated poorly. Adult jail is no place for a kid. Also no one should be denied their freedom because they can’t afford bail. We believe the DA’s office and the judges should be considerate of families living situations because you can’t expect families with responsibilities to pay a high bail if they have to pay bills and handle things at home. Being a kid in adult jail takes a serious toll on you to be locked up in cell that’s the size of a box. You miss a lot of things like birthdays, prom, and graduation - and most importantly, time with the people you love. That’s why the youth bail was so important so young people could come to their families and enjoy every holiday and special events with their loved ones.

y.a.s.p visits paul robeson high school

11/13/2018

YASP staff Josh, Sarah, Ramon, & David went to Paul Robeson High School Nov 13 to do a Youth Organizing Workshop. The workshop was about how our youth can build they own campaign like YASP. YASP taught 3 different classes on how to build a campaign.
In this training we teach youth steps on how to build a campaign, for example identifying the problem and Identifying the target is apart of the workshop. We do this workshop because we want young people to know they have power and can stand up for anything they want.

Y.A.S.P visits West Chester University

10/30/2018

On October 30th, 2018 the YASP team visited West Chester University to speak on the process of youth being charged as an adult. Also shared how yasp is fighting to repeal ACT 33 and how the students can help.

yasp speaks to students at discovery charter school

10/24/2018

YASP staff Josh, Sarah, & David went to Discovery Charter High School Oct 24, 2018 to do a workshop for anti-bullying. The crowd was beautiful there was about 250 to 300 kids and the energy of the kids was nice. During the workshop we ask a lot of kids about bullying and ask have they ever been bullied. A lot of kids raised they hand to being bullied and a lot of kids raised they hand to bullying other kids. Some kids spoke on they personal experience of being bullied and bullying other kids. But as we got deeper into the workshop the YASP team was talking about how Bullying can cause a bad effect on people lifes. Because bullying can cause somebody to go through depression or harm themselves. At the end of the workshop a lot of kids got the message about anti-bullying and how bad it is so hopefully a lot of kids don’t try to bully or when they see someone getting bullied try to tell adult.

yasp holds memorial cookout for ta

9/30/2018

As you mayall know, Y.A.S.P hasve a yearly annual cookout date that's planned each summer by Y.A.S.P staff members. In the past,Usually one particular staff member named T.A Williams organized the cookout’s. Although Tthis year was kind of different due to us losing our great friend T.A last December. So, this year we did the cookoutit in honor of him to support his loved ones & children.

worshops at freire school

4/27/2017

YASP led all-day workshops with 9th-12th graders at Freire Charter School. Centered around the topic of organizing, the students came up with their own strategies to campaign for movements they care about.

yasp & new sanctuary movement

4/7/2017

YASP was excited to meet with New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia. We're looking forward to working together to dismantle the school-to-prison-to-deportation pipeline.

yasp at the create justice conference

4/4/2017

In New York, YASP Leadership Team members, Josh and TA participated at the Create Justice conference.

yasp at the girls rock philly conference

4/3/2017

YASP was excited to join Girls Rock Philly and the Girls Rock Camp Alliance for their annual conference April 3rd. A powerful, productive workshop at a beautiful location!

shoemaker school workshops

3/9/2017

YASP Team members, David, TA, and Josh facilitated 5 powerful workshops at Shoemaker Mastery Charter School. The workshops centered on the power of organizing to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline at its heart: the youth.