Emerging Leader Fellow Hanae Mason spoke to Lucy Tobier of Resolve Philly and Chalkbeat about the Healing Futures restorative justice program led by Youth Art & Self-empowerment Project.
A Philadelphia group wants schools to focus more on being places of joy as a way to overhaul the culture in district schools, and it’s relying on parents and community voices for help.
Lift Every Voice, the organization behind this year’s Joy Campaign, is backing the creation of a “joy-based budget” for schools to bolster access to recess, the arts, counselors, and the district’s program to bolster student mental health known as the Support Team for Educational Partnership. The blueprint would also create a Chief of Joy position in the district; in June, the City Council adopted a resolution exploring the creation of this position in Philly schools. The group says this approach to budgeting and community input is crucial for reducing things like disparities in student discipline.
