Who We Are
YASP Staff
William Bentley, Youth Organizer
William Bentley , Youth Organizer
William Bentley join YASP’s staff in February 27th 2019 William was born in north Philadelphia. In 2014 when William was just 14 years old he was sent to P.I.C.C.(an adult jail.) William met Sarah through his friend Terrance “TA’ Williams. After meeting her William’s life drastically changed. After losing TA to a shooting in north Philadelphia. William realized he had to change his lifestyle. William made up his mind that he wants to become a public speaker to teach the youth on not falling in the same footsteps he once did. William is also an underground north Philadelphia music artist. He is using his music to let people know what being incarcerated at such as young age does to you.
William Bentley join YASP’s staff in February 27th 2019 William was born in north Philadelphia. In 2014 when William was just 14 years old he was sent to P.I.C.C.(an adult jail.) William met Sarah through his friend Terrance “TA’ Williams. After meeting her William’s life drastically changed. After losing TA to a shooting in north Philadelphia. William realized he had to change his lifestyle. William made up his mind that he wants to become a public speaker to teach the youth on not falling in the same footsteps he once did. William is also an underground north Philadelphia music artist. He is using his music to let people know what being incarcerated at such as young age does to you.
Josh Glenn, Co-Director & Leadership Team Member
Joshua Glenn is a poet, a mentor, and Co-founder of YASP. He is also one of the 4 Leadership Team members. Josh started working with YASP in 2005 when he was locked up and charged as an adult at the age of 16. Josh participated in the art and poetry workshops that YASP holds in the Philadelphia county jails every weekend. Josh was released from the county jail in 2007 when his case was dismissed and started working with YASP as a youth organizer. Since then, Josh has spoken on dozens of panels about youth being charged as adults and his experience with being charged as an adult. Josh has also spoken to many audiences about the school to prison pipeline and structural violence and how it is connected to mass incarceration. In 2009, Josh received a certificate from Midwest for the completion of their organizer training. Josh has lead dozens of workshops in Philadelphia public schools about youth being charged as adults and the school-to-prison pipeline and structural violence. Josh is currently on YASP Leadership Team and is working on training young people to be leaders.
Joshua Glenn is a poet, a mentor, and Co-founder of YASP. He is also one of the 4 Leadership Team members. Josh started working with YASP in 2005 when he was locked up and charged as an adult at the age of 16. Josh participated in the art and poetry workshops that YASP holds in the Philadelphia county jails every weekend. Josh was released from the county jail in 2007 when his case was dismissed and started working with YASP as a youth organizer. Since then, Josh has spoken on dozens of panels about youth being charged as adults and his experience with being charged as an adult. Josh has also spoken to many audiences about the school to prison pipeline and structural violence and how it is connected to mass incarceration. In 2009, Josh received a certificate from Midwest for the completion of their organizer training. Josh has lead dozens of workshops in Philadelphia public schools about youth being charged as adults and the school-to-prison pipeline and structural violence. Josh is currently on YASP Leadership Team and is working on training young people to be leaders.
Dashaun Harden ,
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Dashaun Harden, a North Philadelphia native was raised around the wrong crowd at a very young age. Which led him into being charged as an adult at the age 16 in 2015. He was sent to P.I.C.C on State road. He sat there for a year then was sent Upstate where he served 4 ½ yrs. While on State road Dashaun was going to YASP workshops where he met Sarah. When Dashaun was released from Prison he reunited with YASP and wanted to work with them. Now he speaks for the Youth to go against juveniles getting tried as adults. He plans on helping YASP complete their goals and more to come.
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David Harrington, Leadership Team Member
David has been a youth organizer for three years. David was born in North Philadelphia. At 16, he was charged as an adult and sent up to P.I.C.C., an adult jail that’s on State Road. During his time on State Road, David saw a close friend from the school he attended. The friend let him know about YASP’s workshops. David was not very interested in YASP until his friend told him that they play any music you like. So David attended the YASP program on Saturday while Sarah facilitated the workshop. She had everyone writing poetry. As he was writing the poetry, he felt more free and better. After the workshop, Sarah talked to him about the possibility of working with YASP. As soon as his case was sent down to the juvenile system and he came home, David starting working with YASP. Now he goes into the jails to do workshops with the young men at PICC and the young women at RCF. He also does workshops in colleges and goes canvassing. He is trying his best to help the youth and repeal Act 33.
My Le , youth organizer
My was born in Vietnam and was raised in Olney, Philadelphia. My was 17 when she was charged as an adult and was sent up to an adult jail called RCF in 2017. While on State Road, she was attending the YASP workshops every weekend. The workshops helped her figure out her inner talents. My is very interested in fashion design but she is currently writing her own book which was inspired by her time in YASP’s workshops. She is currently working on a clothing line called “Milenia” and a book called “Raised In Dreams.” When she came home at the end of 2018, she reached out to YASP to have a follow up visit at the YASP office. And from there, she has worked with YASP ever since. Being at RCF inspired My to help other young people get out the adult system considering that she was once under those circumstances. With that being said, asking her if she was interested in working with YASP wasn’t a decision she had to think about.
Sarah Morris, Co-Director & Leadership Team Member
Sarah Morris has been involved in co-coordinating the Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project since it began. Sarah first got involved in this work when she was a fellow at the American Friends Service Committee, running weekly art & poetry workshops for young people in Philly's adult jails. After her work at AFSC ended, Sarah worked with young people who had been in the workshops to help transition YASP into its own, youth-led organization. She is also member of Decarcerate PA, a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to ending mass incarceration and the harm it does to our communities, and the Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration (CADBI), which fights to end life without parole (aka death by incarceration) in Pennsylvania.
Ramon Smith aka Uncle Mon, Youth Organizer
Ramon Smith joined YASP’s staff in July 2018. Ramon was born in North Philadelphia. At the age of 16, Ramon was charged as an adult and sent to PICC (an adult jail on State Road). While at PICC, he was introduced to Sarah by his cellmate, and began participating in YASP’s weekend workshops. Ramon attended YASP workshops for the remaining of the year until his case was transferred back to juvenile court.
After Ramon came home at the age of 19, he managed to be on a straight path and reached out to Sarah to become part of YASP. Ramon is a talented artist who brings a great deal to the YASP team. Ramon expressed that he’s happy to be home and wishes to never go back to jail - unless it’s to speak to those who are in the same shoes he once wore.
Ramon Smith joined YASP’s staff in July 2018. Ramon was born in North Philadelphia. At the age of 16, Ramon was charged as an adult and sent to PICC (an adult jail on State Road). While at PICC, he was introduced to Sarah by his cellmate, and began participating in YASP’s weekend workshops. Ramon attended YASP workshops for the remaining of the year until his case was transferred back to juvenile court.
After Ramon came home at the age of 19, he managed to be on a straight path and reached out to Sarah to become part of YASP. Ramon is a talented artist who brings a great deal to the YASP team. Ramon expressed that he’s happy to be home and wishes to never go back to jail - unless it’s to speak to those who are in the same shoes he once wore.
In Memoriam: Terrance (TA) Williams
Terrance (TA) Williams was a powerful organizer, visionary leader, and dedicated friend and coworker. TA joined the YASP team in 2015, and quickly emerged as a compelling storyteller, dynamic organizer and deeply committed mentor to other young people across the city. In early 2016, TA joined the Leadership Team and began consistently representing YASP at conferences, on panels, and in our many coalition organizing spaces. There was really no matching TA in the energy, spirit and exuberance he brought to our work every day. We lost TA in December 2017, when he was killed in a shooting in North Philadelphia. TA was 22 years old when he died.
YASP is a family, and TA was our heart and soul. He brought so much joy and love to everyone who crossed his path. In the office, he was always the one who made us laugh when things were tough. Across the city, he inspired thousands of people with his powerful story and his irrepressible spirit. TA really believed that we could change the world, and he did it every day just by being himself. Nothing we do will be the same without him. The YASP team will carry TA with us in everything we do, and we will never forget his dreams for us and for this city.
Rest in power, our brother. We love you. ❤️
Terrance (TA) Williams was a powerful organizer, visionary leader, and dedicated friend and coworker. TA joined the YASP team in 2015, and quickly emerged as a compelling storyteller, dynamic organizer and deeply committed mentor to other young people across the city. In early 2016, TA joined the Leadership Team and began consistently representing YASP at conferences, on panels, and in our many coalition organizing spaces. There was really no matching TA in the energy, spirit and exuberance he brought to our work every day. We lost TA in December 2017, when he was killed in a shooting in North Philadelphia. TA was 22 years old when he died.
YASP is a family, and TA was our heart and soul. He brought so much joy and love to everyone who crossed his path. In the office, he was always the one who made us laugh when things were tough. Across the city, he inspired thousands of people with his powerful story and his irrepressible spirit. TA really believed that we could change the world, and he did it every day just by being himself. Nothing we do will be the same without him. The YASP team will carry TA with us in everything we do, and we will never forget his dreams for us and for this city.
Rest in power, our brother. We love you. ❤️
