JDCY Co-Sponsors The Big Read , 2010

"Second Chances," (May 4-6) a special focus on juvenile justice for the city read of A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

Presented by The Humanities Council of Washington DC in partnership with the Academy for Educational Development (AED), Justice for DC Youth, and Provisions Library.

All programs are FREE and will take place at the:
AED Globe Theater
1927 Florida Avenue, NW
Reservations requested. Use this RSVP form or call 202-387-8391
For information email bigreaddc@wdchumanities.org or visit www.wdchumanities.org/bigread2010

May 4 at 7 PM
Sentenced Home, a film by Nicole Newnham and David Grabias.
Raised as Americans in inner-city projects near Seattle, three young Cambodian refugees each made a rash decision as a teenager that irrevocably shaped their destiny. Now facing deportation back to Cambodia years later, they find themselves caught between a tragic past and an uncertain future by a system that doesn't offer any second chances. Sentenced Home was featured on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series, Independent Lens in April 2007.

May 5 at 7 PM
Crips and Bloods: Made In America, a film by Stacy Peralta. In the southern portion of Los Angeles, a civil war has been raging for more than 40 years. Crips and Bloods: Made in America searches for answers by providing a historical and sociological context for the rise of the devastating gang violence. Narrated by Forest Whitaker. Crips and Bloods: Made in America was featured on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series, Independent Lens in May 2009. Q&A with Tendani Mpulubusi, Arts Commissioner for Ward 8 and Director of Programs, Helping Inner City Kids Succeed (HICKS); and Ashley Howardformer gang member, youth member of HICKS.

May 6 at 7 PM
Panel: At the age of sixteen, Reginald Dwayne Betts -- a good student from a lower middle class family -- carjacked a man with a friend. He had never held a gun before, but within a matter of minutes he had committed six felonies. He served his nine year sentence as part of the adult population in some of the worst prisons in the state. He's documented coming of age in prison in his memoir A Question of Freedom. Betts, David Muhammad, Chief of Committed Services for the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, and Shani Jamila O'Neal, Director of Justice for DC Youth, give an overview of juveniles in the criminal justice system and the possibilities for second chances in a system that is long overdue for reform.

Presenters in the Big Read DC program for 2010 include the Humanities Council of Washington, DC, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and DC Public Library. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. Visit www.neabigread.org for more information.

Invitation designed by Laroche & Company. For more information, contact Chantal at chantal@larocheco.com.
Click flyer to view larger.

An Inspirational Evening with Iyanla Vanzant

A BENEFIT FOR JUSTICE FOR DC YOUTH

As a leading force in the movement towards an equitable and effective juvenile justice system, JDCY is pleased to extend to you the opportunity to join us for our March 10th fundraising event. The evening will feature poetry, art, music and an inspirational keynote address by New York Times best selling author and spiritual life coach Iyanla Vanzant. Our host will be Columbia University professor and news analyst Dr. Marc Lamont Hill.

This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our organization’s Prison to College Pipeline program, which has supported the education and empowerment of juveniles incarcerated in Washington, D.C. for four years and counting.

We hope you will join us for an evening that will recognize the tremendous potential of our youth as well as the larger community of supporters like you, who have invested in this group of future leaders. Please click below to purchase your tickets!

Benefit Information
March 10, 2010
6:00 - 9:00 pm
AED Globe Theater
1927 Florida Avenue NW
Washington, DC

Strategy Session on Juvenile Justice

October 21st, 2009
Join the Campaign for Youth Justice and Justice for DC Youth on Wednesday October 21st, 2009 for a strategy session on juvenile justice in Washington, DC. The purpose of the strategy session will be to identify & prioritize key “next steps” for juvenile justice reform in the District of Columbia, building off the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Juvenile Justice issued in 2001.

» Learn More / Register

The Blue Party

June 17th, 2009
The Blue Party was held on Wednesday June 17th, from 6-9pm at the beautiful Hamiltonian Gallery, located at 1353 U Street NW, Washington DC (VIEW PHOTOS). Some of the area's best artists were there, including noted blues singer Akua Kyerematin, DJ Jahsonic (recognized in the City Paper's 2009 "Best of DC" list), and Def Poetry Jam's Bassey Ipki. We also enjoyed live sculpture by the Painted Ladies Performance Project.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we had a number of amazing packages that we offered at our silent auction, including:
  • a blues basket from WPFW 89.3FM that features a handpicked selection of music and goodies- including the opportunity to co-host a show;
  • theatre tickets to local venues including the Kennedy Center, Atlas Theatre, and the Wooly Mammoth Theatre;
  • a private cooking lesson from renowned chef Bryant Terry, as well as a signed copy of his signed book Vegan Soul Kitchen;
  • original art donated by the Hornfleur Gallery;
  • and the opportunity to win a staycation at the fabulous St. Regis hotel!
JDCY is pleased to thank our organizational sponsor STARS: The Campaign for Youth Justice, the Praxis Project, Sasha Bruce Youthworks and the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates for their support of this event.

We also are so happy that the following individuals joined our host committee: Tara Andrews, Johnny Barnes, Mary Brown, Sarah Bryer, Carol Chodroff, Judith Dobbins, Mishaela Duran, Dr. Ramona Edelin, Peter Edelman, Alexa Eggleston, Eddie Ferrer, James Forman, Phil Fornaci, Kris Henning, Eugene Kinlow, Wally Mlyniec, Terry Modglin, Ashley Nellis, Alan Pemberton, Liz Ryan, Marc Schindler, Vincent Schiraldi, Penelope Spain, Judie Storandt, Joe Tulman, Bobby Vassar and Tracy Velazquez.

This was a not to be missed event, in support of a wonderful cause.

VIEW BLUE PARTY PHOTOS

The Relationship Between Community Based Alternatives to Incarceration, Rehabilitation, and Public Safety

In April of 2009, JDCY facilitated its second annual juvenile justice panel discussion. With the reform conversation shifting toward the community's role and responsibility the discussion centered on the relationship between community based alternatives to incarceration, rehabilitation, and public safety. The panel consisted of Peaceoholics CEO Ron Moten, President of the Campaign for Youth Justice Liz Ryan, Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Deputy Director David Brown, and one of the youth who inspires our work - Tyree Knight.

Prison to College Pipeline Open Mic/Talent Showcase

JDCY’s first annual Open Mic/Talent showcase event was held on the University of Maryland College Park campus in April 2009 to raise awareness about the DC juvenile justice system. Our theme, “Building a Pipeline of Possibilities,” was about our desire to create structural changes in the juvenile justice system that will foster the healthy positive development our youth deserve. Local artists and University of Maryland students all came together for live music performances and a visual arts exhibition that articulated the struggle of youth in the juvenile justice system. The showcase demonstrated the importance of using art as a tool for social change and illustrated our declaration to improving the lives of the young people that we come in contact with.

Prison to College Pipeline Fundraiser

JDCY's August 2008 fundraiser was held at Busboys & Poets. This event was all about raising support for the Prison to College Pipeline - our leadership development, mentoring and education program for incarcerated youth. During the event, we kicked off a postcard campaign to demonstrate community support for the Juvenile Justice Improvement Act of 2008. We also presented a showcase of our arts activism facilitators, who treated the audience to an array of the socially conscious hip-hop, poetry, and rhythm & blues we use in our mentoring work with young people.

Bridging the Gap Between Collegiate and Incarcerated Youth

In April of 2008, JDCY facilitated its first annual panel discussion at the University of Maryland, College Park. This discussion focused on bridging the gap between collegiate and incarcerated youth, via the establishment of the Prison to College Pipeline Program. The panel consisted of Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Deputy Director David Brown, Associate Judge of the DC Superior Court Zoe Bush, African American Studies Professor Dr. Joseph Richardson and Prison Art Gallery associate Jahi Foster-Bey.

Check the Rhyme

On July 26, 2007, JDCY put on Check the Rhyme - a spectacular event exemplifying the importance of art and culture in movement building. The evening featured a concert by DC hip hop legends Asheru and the Els, poetry performances by formerly incarcerated youth, a report release on youth in DC's adult jails, a related film screening, and live performance painting by AM Radio.