Arts Activism & Youth in the System: Thinking Out Loud

New York is one of two states in the U.S. that charges youth who are 16-18 as adults in the criminal justice system. How can we raise awareness through arts advocacy about this important human rights issue? Partnering with Brian Lewis, adjunct professor at Eugene Lang College and senior teacher at exalt, which works with young people in the criminal justice system, and arts activist Rasu Jilani, this weekend-long symposium includes an academic course, workshops, panel discussions, and arts events that focus on youth in the criminal justice system and the “Raise the Age” campaign.

Thinking Out Loud: Arts Advocacy & Youth in the System will feature a number of artists and activists who work in a variety of disciplines with youth who are caught in the criminal justice system. The goal of the event is to raise consciousness about issues surrounding the age of criminal responsibility in New York state. It will be a high-profile event moderated by Rasu Jilani from The New Museum. It will also include Liza Jessie Peterson reading from her new book All Day about her work leading writing workshops with 16-17 year olds at Rikers Island.

This symposium is unique because the young people most impacted by the issues- court-involved teens- will share their stories and perspectives with legal professionals, legislators and the public. By sharing their stories, exalt hopes to provoke the imaginations of individuals with the power to enact policies and shape legislation that can ultimately determine the likelihood that young people can pursue educational advancement, professional development, and criminal justice system avoidance, OR continue to face a punitive system that incarcerates them, stunts their potential and limits their opportunities.

The symposium will run concurrently with Arts Advocacy: Youth in the System – a Civic Liberal Arts course based on Sekou Sundiata’s methods of making as a way of thinking and re-imagining the possible. Registered students will create their own proposals for Arts as Activism and the class will function as a brainstorming lab on how to address social problems with art.

We believe university students are an important tipping point for social movements. This event will also seek to get key actors (legislatures, prosecutors, elected officials, and the general public) in the room to experience the power of the art.

This event is FREE and open to the public – please register at our EventBrite page.