Project Details
Description
For the last two years, the Children and Family Justice Center has hosted “think tanks” with over 500 youth, families and correctional officers throughout Illinois seeking their input on the role of youth prisons and whether there was another approach that was more effective at rehabilitating youth and enhancing public safety. An integral part of the project was working with formerly incarcerated youth who designed and co- facilitated the think tanks and then assisted in analyzing and reporting on the results.
In January 2020, the CFJC along with the youth leaders, determined that the time was right to build upon the CFJC’s decade long advocacy and begin a state-wide campaign which the youth named, The Final Five Campaign (TF5C or Campaign). The goal of the Campaign is to close the remaining five youth prisons in Illinois. Youth leadership is essential to The Final Five Campaign and reflects a core value that formally incarcerated young people must co-lead, establish the Campaign’s strategy as well as build its infrastructure and social media presence. Youth leadership and participation in every aspect of the Campaign furthers the objective of centering youth voices and securing a seat at the policy table for the youth leaders.
With support from the CFJC, the TF5C formally began a youth leadership development program on May 15, 2020. Organized as a summer internship, youth leaders were provided the opportunity to participate in a number of tasks, including designing a communications and social media strategy, drafting principles and policies, and developing curricula. Over the summer, the youth leaders with their allies/mentors, the CFJC, built the Campaign's foundation establishing its priorities and strategic values as well as using art, storytelling, and graphics to advance their messages. A key component of the internship, and of the Campaign moving forward, is political education. Throughout the summer young people engaged in conversations a
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 12/10/20 → 2/1/22 |
Funding
- Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation (Agmt# 12/22/20)
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