The Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project (YASP) is a youth-led, intergenerational organization fighting to end youth incarceration, with a focus on eliminating the practice of charging children as adults. Our holistic approach supports young people impacted by the criminal legal system to express themselves creatively, to grow as leaders and to develop transformative possibilities in their communities and beyond. Together we implement alternatives for responding to harm and violence in Philadelphia and across the country while building towards our vision of a world without incarceration.
The hub is a youth-led space where any young people with open court cases - or their families - can come to get support, talk through how the process works, and think about their next steps and strategies to get the best possible outcome for their future.
Healing Futures is Philly’s first ever pre-charge, youth-focused restorative justice diversion program. This program diverts young people’s cases from the courts to a restorative justice process, prior to any charges being filed.
We are a coalition of young people and youth advocates working to end youth incarceration. Together, we’ve created a vision for, and action steps towards, ending youth incarceration in Pennsylvania once and for all.
Repeal Pennsylvania laws that allow young people to be prosecuted as adults and incarcerated in adult jails and prisons.
YASP’s workshops are not just a place to make artwork but they also serve as a opportunity for self-expression, personal development and healing.
The Youth Hub Fellowship is a 6-month paid-fellowship for any young person who has been directly impacted by the criminal justice system.
