This week Faith and Paul from MSPJC have been spending the week at Memphis Business Academy in Frayser teaching students about their rights! Joined by Kyresha Goodman, a summer intern who continues to help with the work of the JJP, they are teaching the students what their rights are. Each day they are taking over a different grade’s English class to host Know Your Rights Workshops with the teens. They have had a great time getting to know the students.
Teacher Darren Clark said “It’s great that you’re coming out here. They need to know this. Sometimes they might get angered with police but they need to know how to deal with it until they get home.”
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 love going all over the city and working with students. Let us come to you! Our workshops are free, interactive, and help tie in the constitution. We can work around your schedule. To bring us to your school, youth group, or other organization reach out to Faith Pollan at faith@midsouthpeace.org or call the center at 901-725-4990.
The work of the Juvenile Justice Project unfortunately does not fund itself and we need your help! You can donate online at https://midsouthpeace.org/get-