You're Invited to a Day of Art, Youth and Justice

Art is a catalyst and dynamic force that can express the plight, power and action of a community ready for change.  On Saturday, October 26th at the Baltimore Museum of Art there will be an active expression of colors and hues expressed in illustration, painting, video, spoken word, discussion and song to show how art can convey challenges, conflict, hope and change. 

Advocates for Children and Youth and the Greenmount West Community Center Foundation  present  "Art, Youth and Justice: Celebrating Youth Justice Month at the Baltimore Museum of Art."   On this day only, there will be free admission to the exhibit, Generations: A History of Black Abstract Art. The art collection of Pamela Joyner is known as the "activist collector" for her curation and purchase of primarily artists of African descent.   

In addition, there will be the free showing of the movie, "Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools," and the video series Rethink Baltimore that focuses on the complex lives of Baltimore City youth and those who want a better future for them. 

In the evening, there will be a mixer and a concert featuring Grammy-nominated singer, rapper and singer Maimouna Youssef aka MuMu Fresh, who is  currently on tour with Common.   Tickets are $65 for cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and the concert.   See you there!

Film: Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools. A documentary film by Monique W. Morris, Ed.D.  

Moderator
 Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor (aka J.A.M.) author, cultural storyteller
Her writings about African American cultural heritage and ethnicity have been published and cited across a wide range of publications including Huffington Post, the Business Insider, MSNBC, LA Progressive and TV One's "News One Now." Her blog, OurLegaci.com, has reached over 2 million readers worldwide.   She has helped to shift the cultural landscape through her work in civil rights and progressive movements at New Organizing Institute, Megaphone Strategies, and Fitzgibbon Media. J.A.M. combines her unique expertise and creative prowess to launch programs and institutions dedicated to social change and empowerment through storytelling.

Jessica will be moderating the panel discussion on PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools.  This film is a feature length documentary which takes a close look at the educational, judicial and societal disparities facing Black Girls. Inspired by the groundbreaking book of the same name by renowned scholar, Monique W. Morris, Ed.D. The documentary confronts the ways in which the misunderstanding of Black girlhood has led to excessive punitive discipline which in turn disrupts one of the most important factors in their lives, their education.  After the screening, Jessica will facilitate an engaging panel discussion about topics such as adultification, bias and restorative practices. 

Panelists scheduled to appear include:
Delegate Debra Davis, District 28, Charles County 
Kisha Webster, Executive Director, Greenmount West Community Center
Tahera Fraizer, Fellow at Community Law in Action (CLIA)
Monique Rose, Group home owner, directly-impacted adult
Toni Criner, Humanitarian, child and youth welfare change agent
Tracey L. Durant, Ed.D.,  Chair, Director of Equity of Baltimore City Public Schools
Shantay McKinily, Director of the Positive Schools Center (PSC) at the University of Maryland School of Social Work

Video Series: Rethink Baltimore

Panelists scheduled to appear include:
Delegate Stephanie Smith, District 45, Baltimore City
Tisha Edwards, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success
Derrick Chase, CEO and Founder Stand Up Baltimore
Dr. Lorece V. Edwards, Director of Community Practice and Outreach and Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral Health Sciences at the Morgan State University School of Community Health and Policy
Imhotep Fatiu, Director of Safe Streets Sandtown
John Brothers, President of the T. Rowe Price Foundation and President of the Program for Charitable Giving 
Dayvon Love,  Director of Public Policy, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle
Shayla Williams, Moms Demand Action

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