Cops & Kids
The Breeze
© 2007 City of Philadelphia
17th Police District, 20th Street and Point Breeze Avenue
Photo by Jack Ramsdale
In partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department and Department of Human Services, the Mural Arts Program's Cops & Kids program works with youth and police throughout Philadelphia to provide a series of workshops, discussion, writing and art- making activities that explore identity, connection and universal common ground. These dialogues culminate in a mural created on or around a local police building.
The primary goal of Cops & Kids is to use art to confront and challenge stereotypes and to build positive relationships between these conflicting groups where poor communication has resulted in distrust and a lack of respect on both sides. Cops & Kids gives youth a unique opportunity to create major public art side-by-side with police officers from their neighborhood. Through years of experience in bringing opposing groups together, the Mural Arts Program has witnessed repeatedly how mural projects can offer constituents an opportunity to connect and understand one another. Both youth and police gain a greater understanding of each other while giving back to the community.
I needed some direction in my life, and I found it with Mural Arts.
—Eric, age 20, Temple University student, Former Graffiti Writer and ARTscape student
Cops & Kids has worked with youth and police officers in the 15th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, and 26th Police Districts.
Daring to Cross the Waters, © 2007 City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program / Cesar Viveros, Lauretha Vaird Boys & Girls Club, 4800 Whitaker Avenue, Photo by Jack Ramsdale
For more information, a copy of the documentary film on the Cops & Kids process, or a copy of Cops & Kids poetry 'Zine (a youth-produced magazine) contact Maneesha Sane at maneesha.sane@muralarts.org or 215-685-0726.
I'm not getting into trouble anymore. I used to, but that program and others at Mural Arts keep me occupied. I got into the programs because I got in trouble in school. But Mural Arts helped me get back in school and I'm sticking with it now.
—Cops & Kids Youth, Winter 2008
Download an evaluation [313K PDF]* of the Cops & Kids program completed by Capacity for Change, LLC.
* In order to read PDFs, you need Adobe Reader. Download it here.