Sarah Morris, Joshua Glenn, & Terrance Williams (Youth Art Self-empowerment Project)
Terrance (far left), Josh & Sarah (far right)
The Youth Art Self-Empowerment Project (YASP) is a youth led organization, where five out of the six staff members have been through adult prison system as a young person. YASP participates in many coalitions, especially #No215Bail. The staff goes into the Philadelphia adult jails to do art and poetry workshops with youth who are charged as adults. The organization goes into schools as well to teach youth about the school to prison pipeline. YASP organizes pep rallies to raise awareness about mass incarceration. YASP also heads a campaign to repeal Act 33.
Nigel Bowe (The Choice is Yours)
The Choice is Yours is a diversion program that was developed through the district attorney’s office for first time nonviolent offenders. Clients are offenders who have been arrested with for the possession with the intent to distribute. We’re targeting male and female ages 18-24. TCY includes services like life skills, job skills, job placement, educational enhancement, we have a high school diploma completion program that is provided through Penn Foster. The program aims to impact the recidivism rate. Once clients have graduated from the program, and go one year without a new offense, their case is dismissed and eligible for expungement.