upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

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A Symposium on Mass Incarceration

As a follow up to the 2007 and 2012 Arts and Criminal Justice symposiums, and as the capstone to an ongoing art and community conversation project, the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program’s Restorative Justice Department is planning a new symposium for Spring 2014. Moving Beyond the Wall: A Symposium on Mass Incarceration will take place on April 15 from 9:00am - 3:30pm at the Fox Rothschild Center for Law and Society Community College of Philadelphia (17th and Spring Garden Streets).

Moving Beyond the Wall is designed to engage criminal justice advocates, students, artists, returning citizens, others involved in the criminal justice system, and professionals in pointed discussions and special presentations about the complex issues surrounding the rise in incarceration rates throughout the country. In addition, we will address connections to key social systems, and advocacy and programming to promote social justice and change within the system.

Workshop topics include:

  • Art as a Tool for Individual and Community Transformation
  • Statistical Research & Evaluation
  • Best Practices in Reentry Programming
  • Victim and Community Perspectives on Criminal Justice and Mass Incarceration
  • Returning Citizens

A light breakfast, lunch, a choice of two (2) engaging workshops, and a stage performance of “Lyrics from Lockdown” by internationally-recognized social activist and artist Bryonn Bain are included in registration. Bain’s incredible ordeal of going from Harvard Law School to being wrongfully imprisoned, is told through music, movement, and words. John E. Wetzel, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections will give a keynote speech followed by Q&A and Glenn E. Martin, Founder & President, JustLeadershipUSA, will also speak during the symposium. JustLeadershipUSA is a national, non-partisan membership organization whose goal is to reduce the number of people in prison in half by 2030. A wine and cheese reception for Mural Arts’ annual Restorative Justice art exhibition at the Thomas Eakins House immediately follows the symposium and is included at no additional cost. Click here to RSVP.  For more information call Laure Biron  at lbiron@gmail.com or call 215-584-8524.

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