On March 22 the Rhodes chapter of Zeta Phi Beta invited the Juvenile Justice Project on campus for a Know Your Rights Theatre Workshop. Over 30 students from Rhodes and other visiting colleges participated in this immersive, improv theatre based workshop. Thank you so much for having us out! Memphis United and the Juvenile Justice Project offer this free workshop to schools, churches, camps, and other organizations all over Memphis. We are currently booking summer sessions. This workshop can be adapted for elementary students all the way to adults and can last 30 minutes to an hour and a half depending on how much time you have.
Most of us, even us “woke” folks, have been well schooled on what we think our rights are when it comes to encounters with police officers. Cop dramas and movies have informed many of our beliefs about the way police interact with the public, and often this has shaped the way we engage with law enforcement in real life either consciously or unconsciously. Memphis United and the Juvenile Justice Project (JJP) want to clear up these misconceptions so that we can all be successful when we encounter law enforcement.These unique workshops use interactive theatre to educate young people about their rights and how to better communicate with law enforcement. Participants become the actors playing out real-life scenarios without the real-life consequences of an encounter law enforcement. We run these workshops for free and we’ll come to you. We love visiting schools, youth groups, clubs, etc.
The JJP is also excited to announce that our partner, New Direction Church, is further opening their hearts and their doors to young people who need to fulfill court ordered community service hours. They will now be taking on teens every Wednesday in their youth group to serve their hours by helping set up, break down, and engaging alongside their peers. It takes a village to raise successful kids and New Direction exhibits that every day. We are so thrilled about these transformative opportunities for change these young people are being offered. But it takes more than one church in our great city to really help turn the tide on the school-to-prison pipeline. We need YOU, your church, youth group, or organization to come on board today and help us find better ways for these kids to serve their hours.
The JJP is working with Juvenile Court to build networks of churches and organizations to address our high number of youth offenders and the lack of opportunities for court ordered community service, specifically in the areas of Hickory Hill & Bartlett. We believe that youth are the solution, not the problem so we work with these teens to help them find their place in their communities through transformative service opportunities. Studies continue to show that punitive measures often lead to a continued life of crime as opposed to seeking more rehabilitative opportunities, MSPJC firmly adheres to the idea of working with those most affected by the issues. Help us build a better Memphis and partner with our youth.
If your organization or group would like to partner to provide opportunities for our young people, please take a minute to fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/4SpkBGu2NBuFwHOp2
To book a Know Your Rights workshop or learn more about partnering with the Juvenile Justice Project call Faith Pollan at 901-725-4990 or email at faith@midsouthpeace.org