Nov 15
Restorative Justice Receives Ford Foundation Grant
by: Laura Kochman
by: Laura Kochman
Guild participants, artists, and supporters cut a ceremonial ribbon at the B Street Bridge mural dedication. Photo by Steve Weinik.
We’re excited to announce that our Restorative Justice program has just received one of the inaugural grants from the Ford Foundation’s Art for Justice Fund. Mural Arts applied for this funding based on our rich history of work with those who are touched by the criminal justice system, particularly incarcerated people, returning citizens, and young adults on probation, as well as those impacted by the juvenile justice system. Out of the inaugural cohort of 30 grant recipients, Mural Arts is the main visual arts organization—grantees fall into categories of bail reform, sentencing reform, re-entry barriers, bearing witness, and arts programs.
Our Restorative Justice program has a long track record of incorporating art and social justice, resulting in programs, mural projects, and a highly successful work program: the Guild. We work in communities negatively impacted by crime and incarceration, and engage diverse audiences in discussions and dialogue about criminal justice reform.
The funding from the Art for Justice Fund will allow us to:
Together, these activities will enhance the City’s effort to decrease the jail population; increase the scale and reach of the Guild program; lay the groundwork for future project and greater program sustainability; and improve our ability to influence criminal justice reform in place outside of Philadelphia while giving a voice to and being led by those most impacted by the system.
Last updated: Jan 9, 2018
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