St. Davids, PA October 10, 2017: On Thursday, October 26, 2017, 7- 9 p.m. Eastern University will celebrate Youth Justice Awareness Month (October), a national initiative of the Campaign for Youth Justice based in Washington, D.C. This year’s observance is the YJAM Creative Arts Café which aims to use the creative and performing arts to inspire action around the removal of children from adult lock-ups, and to educate persons about the practice of trying children in adult criminal courts.
The YJAM Creative Arts Cafe includes artistic exhibits and performances including music, spoken word, drama, dance and much more. Prizes will be awarded to the top three performers. The judges include Ms. Paige Adamczak of the Eastern University Prison Ministry, singer / poet Ms. Sanovia Garrett, Community Arts MA in Urban Studies student, Dr. Chris Kimmenez, Director of Healing Communities USA Philadelphia Chapter, and Dr. Patricia Reger, Dean of the College of Health and Social Sciences at Eastern University. Although there will be an open mic time, performers are encouraged to sign up in advance by completing the link at www.eastern.edu/yjam. Our special guest performer for the evening will be recording artist, Lauren NeFesha. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a youth justice advocacy activity at the end of the evening.
The YJAM Creative Arts Cafe will be held at Eastern University (Eagle Hall Great Room), 1300 Eagle Road, St. Davids, PA 19087. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
The YJAM Creative Arts café addresses issues such as the crisis regarding youth involvement in the justice system, restorative justice, and matters related to juvenile justice.
This important forum raising awareness around youth justice is made possible by the YJAM Host Team comprised of representatives from Eastern’s Center for Urban Youth Development, Prison Ministry, College of Health and Social Sciences, Departments of Criminal Justice, Urban Studies, Sociology, Political Science, Chaplain, and INST 150; and community partners Out of Nazareth and the Philadelphia (Juvenile) Faith-Based Reentry Coalition.
For more information contact Dr. Kimberlee Johnson, Director of Eastern University’s Center for Urban Youth Development, and Director of the MA in Urban Studies program, at kjohnso2@eastern.edu.