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 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.
Announcing YASP's newest program: Healing Futures!
We’re excited to announce the launch of a new, historic program: Healing Futures! Healing Futures is Philly’s first ever pre-charge, youth-focused restorative justice diversion program. This groundbreaking program will divert young people’s cases from the courts to a restorative justice process, prior to any charges being filed.
This is a huge milestone for youth justice in Philly—and one that YASP has spent years working toward. For years, the system has been focused on criminalization and incarceration, in turn perpetuating the cycle of violence that traps so many young people. With Healing Futures, we have an opportunity for real justice and healing—by allowing survivors to get their needs met and young people who’ve caused harm to take accountability without getting pushed into the criminal legal system.
This year’s Healing Futures pilot will process 25 cases, expanding to increase capacity in 2022. The program will focus on felonies and high-level misdemeanors, such as robberies, burglaries, and assaults. Here’s how it'll work:
"With this restorative justice diversion program in Philadelphia, we're recreating what public safety looks like. We're changing the narrative of crime and punishment that our communities have been trapped in by addressing harm with accountability, healing, and hope. On a personal level, as someone who had been involved in causing irreparable harm to someone else as an adolescent myself, and having served over 30 years in prison, it's an honor and blessing to now help young people receive what they need to help repair the harms they've caused and to succeed in life. It means more to me than most might imagine to also help people who were harmed to heal and be safe in their community."
We also want to recognize our partner, Impact Justice, who supports restorative justice models nationwide. As their research shows, restorative justice works. Youth who completed restorative justice diversion in Alameda County, California, for example, were 44% less likely to recidivate. The county has also saved money—the average cost of a diversion case is around $10,000, compared to the $490,000 to incarcerate a young person.
Stay tuned for more updates as Healing Future’s work gets rolling! And as always, if you’re interested in helping keep our work going for the long haul, you can become a YASP sustainer here.
We’re excited to announce the launch of a new, historic program: Healing Futures! Healing Futures is Philly’s first ever pre-charge, youth-focused restorative justice diversion program. This groundbreaking program will divert young people’s cases from the courts to a restorative justice process, prior to any charges being filed.
This is a huge milestone for youth justice in Philly—and one that YASP has spent years working toward. For years, the system has been focused on criminalization and incarceration, in turn perpetuating the cycle of violence that traps so many young people. With Healing Futures, we have an opportunity for real justice and healing—by allowing survivors to get their needs met and young people who’ve caused harm to take accountability without getting pushed into the criminal legal system.
This year’s Healing Futures pilot will process 25 cases, expanding to increase capacity in 2022. The program will focus on felonies and high-level misdemeanors, such as robberies, burglaries, and assaults. Here’s how it'll work:
- In place of arresting and prosecuting a young person, the Philly District Attorney’s Office will refer their case to YASP for a facilitated face-to-face meeting with the person harmed, their support systems, and other impacted community members.
- Participants will develop a consensus-based plan to repair harms.
- Once this plan is completed, no charges will be filed, and the case will be closed.
"With this restorative justice diversion program in Philadelphia, we're recreating what public safety looks like. We're changing the narrative of crime and punishment that our communities have been trapped in by addressing harm with accountability, healing, and hope. On a personal level, as someone who had been involved in causing irreparable harm to someone else as an adolescent myself, and having served over 30 years in prison, it's an honor and blessing to now help young people receive what they need to help repair the harms they've caused and to succeed in life. It means more to me than most might imagine to also help people who were harmed to heal and be safe in their community."
We also want to recognize our partner, Impact Justice, who supports restorative justice models nationwide. As their research shows, restorative justice works. Youth who completed restorative justice diversion in Alameda County, California, for example, were 44% less likely to recidivate. The county has also saved money—the average cost of a diversion case is around $10,000, compared to the $490,000 to incarcerate a young person.
Stay tuned for more updates as Healing Future’s work gets rolling! And as always, if you’re interested in helping keep our work going for the long haul, you can become a YASP sustainer here.
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CHECK OUT YASP'S 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. ** 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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Support the #CareNotControl campaign and our work to end youth incarceration!
Read our demands here and take action by signing the petition! 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. |
YASP in the News!
Dashaun Harden, YASP organizer 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. |
