Graves to Gardens Podcast

A fundamental question we've been having all season long is how do we support some of our most vulnerable youths in ways that don't lead to further trauma. In the case where a crime is committed and irrevocable harm has been done, our justice system in places like Philadelphia have decided that depending on the crime, that young person should be sentenced to die in prison without any chance of reconciliation. In today’s episode, we grapple with this as well as alternative responses to indescribable harm. As I sit in conversation with two women with unique perspectives, one having served time in an adult facility as a youth and the other serving time in a youth facility, we’ll talk about the needs of children and the ways that we can come together as a community to better advocate on behalf of those needs. 

Stay connected with all that YSRP and the work of their Speakers Bureau by visiting their website or following them on Instagram.

Mark 9:37

“Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

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Resource(s):

1. The Prison Policy Initiative. 
   

So far in this season you’ve met an incredible organization that is tirelessly working to bring young people home to their communities where they can enter into a restorative justice program rather than face the punitive measures brought on by the court system. In Philadelphia, just 20% of young people have the opportunity to enroll in one of these types of programs. The remaining 80% are left at the mercy of the courts, some of whom are sentenced to adult facilities. Across the country, children as young as 13 years old can be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole and in the state of Pennsylvania, children are automatically tried as adults in homicide cases. 

This act of automatically charging children as adults due to the charges brought against them is known as direct file. This and more will be discussed in today’s episode with speakers: Bianca van Heydoorn, Executive Director of the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project and Shariff Ingram, Speakers Bureau & Policy Coordinator of the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project. 

You can stay connected with YSRP by either visiting their website or following them on Instagram. If you would like to support their effort, you can donate to their nonprofit at the bottom of their homepage. Also, be sure to sign up to their newsletter via their website also found at the bottom of the homepage! 

**WARNING** This episode makes mention of self-harm which may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.

Matthew 25:31-40

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

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Last time you met Felix Rosado, Program Manager for Healing Futures. This last episode provided you with a historical understanding of the racist policy practices that landed so many young people like Felix in prisons throughout the 90's and how these systems upheld today continue to ravage neighborhoods and the lives of many of our young people. This episode concludes with a vision of hope; a hope that Felix found first in his faith in Christ and then in his ability to pour into the next generation through his work with Healing Futures. 

In today's episode we pickup with Healing Futures - giving you greater insights into their work and how the arts serve its purpose in their restorative justice diversion program. In this episode, you'll meet Queen-Cheyene Wade, another Program Manager for Healing Futures and Jasmin Diaz, the Restorative Justice Facilitator. Together they will share with us how the saying "it takes a village" takes shape in their work both in their circle practices and with their community network of organizations and institutions that support their effort of impacting the lives of young people. 

You can stay connected with Healing Futures by either visiting their website or following them on Instagram. If you would like to support their effort, you can donate to YASP, the parent organization of Healing Futures, using this link. Finally, if you are in need of a good read, you can also purchase your copy of New York Times Best Selling Author Ibram X. Kendi’s latest book, Malcolm Lives!

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Proverbs 27:17

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Resources:

1. Business Insider Article.

   
   

Additional Music:

1. Peaceful Ambient Documentary by Ilariio -- https://freesound.org/s/789300/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

It is deeply troubling yet unsurprising that the United States is the leading country with the highest youth incarceration rate than that of any other country in the world. We as a society have become desensitized to the idea of ushering our children into cages in conditions not suited for anyone let alone a child. We not only criminalize our youth but in some cases, send them off to adult facilities where their safety is at greater risk. We have even sentenced our youth to live out the rest of their life behind the walls of a prison, aka to serve a death by incarceration sentence.

In today’s episode Felix Rosado, Program Manager for Healing Futures, will share how he faced being served a death by incarceration sentence at the age of 18. We’ll discuss how against incredible odds his sentence was officially commuted in 2022 after years of fighting for his conviction to be overturned. And we’ll discuss what he is now doing with his second chance. 

Through a reconnection to his faith, self-discovery and deep self-determination, Felix has discovered his purpose – to be of service to young people as a restorative justice practitioner. This episode peels back a layer to what’s possible for us societally when we embrace methods and systems that don’t rely on incarceration but instead restoration and transformation. 

Philippians 1:6

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

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Resources:

1. “Justice from the Inside Up: A Restorative Justice Education Facilitator’s Manual”. Book by Felix Rosado
2. “Correctional Populations in the United States, 1996”. Article by the U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs
3. “Fact Sheet: Juvenile Justice System”. Article by the ACLU
4. Juvenile Incarceration in 1996
5. “In the Movement with Peacebuilder Felix Rosado” Video Interview by Equal Justice USA
6. “A Matter of Life: The Scope and Impact of Life and Long Term Imprisonment in the United States” Article by The Sentencing Project

Additional Music:

1. Spy-Game.aif by InAvision -- https://freesound.org/s/493909/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
2. Peaceful Ambient Documentary by Ilariio -- https://freesound.org/s/789300/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
3. Ambiant 1  by TheFrohman -- https://freesound.org/s/206043/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Graves to Gardens Podcast is back with a new season and a slightly new format! Unlike past seasons where there's a new topic with each new episode, this season will have a concentrated topic and you will hear from a few experts and their connected community partners on the topic.

The entire season 6 will be all about addressing youth incarceration, primarily looking at alternative approaches to incarceration and the advocacy that goes into stopping a young person from winding up in an adult facility. Leading the series will be two Philadelphia based nonprofits, Healing Futures (a vital arm of the larger organization, vital arm of the organization Youth Arts and Self Empowerment Project or YASP for short) as well as the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project.

Today's episode is to serve as an introduction to the season, give you context on why I've titled this episode "Planted in Praise, Planted in Purpose" and what to expect from next Thursday's episode.

Below are a few key words that we'll discuss more throughout this season that I'd like you to have definitions for:

• Restorative justice: A response to wrongdoing that prioritizes repairing harm and recognizes that maintaining positive relationships with others is a core human need. It seeks to address the root causes of crime, even to the point of transforming unjust systems and structures.
• Healing circle: Deriving from practices of Native Americans, First Nations, and indigenous peoples, the Circle Process allows for the formation of relationships, the honoring of voices, and the creation of unity. The process is, at its essence, a story sharing process, which brings together people as equals to have open exchanges about difficult issues or painful experiences in an atmosphere of respect and concern for everyone.
• Direct file: A category of cases in which the prosecutor may determine whether to proceed initially in juvenile or criminal court. Typically, these direct file provisions give both juvenile and adult criminal courts the power to hear cases involving certain offenses or age/offense categories, leaving it up to the prosecutor to make discretionary decisions about where to file them.

Today's episode features clips published by two news outlets. Both are linked below:

• Clip 1 -- 4 minutes and 30 seconds in
• Clip 2 & 3 -- 10 minutes and 40 seconds in & 13 minutes and 30 seconds in

2 Samuel 6:13-15

13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

Matthew 25:34-40

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

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For the season five finale I'm joined by Pastor Carl Day of Culture Changing Christians. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Pastor Carl has his own personal connection to this second chance model he's molded with Beat the Block.

His influence has trickled out beyond his neighborhood and now he can say he's been to the White House, challenged Donald Trump on his "make America great again" statement as it relates to Black Americans and advocated for true community safety and healing particularly for Philadelphians.

To stay connected with Pastor Day you can follow him on Instagram or Twitter. You can also support the work he's doing with Beat the Block as well as his church's ministry work.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

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In honor of Women and Girls Empowerment Day, which falls later this month, I'm excited to bring to you a conversation I had with Founder and Director of the nonprofit Silent Cry, Shawanna Vaughn. This episode comes at the most opportune time because today is the day that Shawanna's nonprofit will host their Women and Girls Empowerment Day in NYC!

At a time where the state of women's rights are in precarious position, Shawanna felt it necessary to bring women together to grant them respite from the realities that lie ahead. At this gathering women and girls will get a chance to indulge in a number of self care activities from crafting their own jewelry to creating vision boards and even receiving access to legal and housing resources. Shawanna imagined this as an opportunity for women and girls alike to relax, enjoy the company of one another and come away feeling more empowered after having shown up.

In today's episode, Shawanna and I discuss today's event, her story and vision for the future of justice work. From the policy she crafted called the Post Traumatic Prison Disorder to her adamant advocacy for us all to stand behind VP Harris in this upcoming election.

To support Shawanna and her work, you can visit her website here and either donate to support the passing of the legislation she crafted or to support the immediate needs of women by purchasing items from her Amazon wishlist. You can also stay up-to-date with her by following her on Instagram. For anyone interested in stopping by the Women and Girls Empowerment Day, it will be taking place at 147 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10026 from 3pm-6pm. All are welcome!

Psalm 126:5

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 

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In January of this year, The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Institute for Human Rights Blog released this statement: "Indigenous people are incarcerated in federal and state prisons at over four times the rate of white people". Like many groups of color, Native people are vastly overrepresented in criminal legal system.

In today's episode you'll meet Henry Frank, an Indigenous artist belonging to the Yurok and Pomo Nations. Henry shares his redemptive story that involves a pen, prison and the power of community during his darkest hour. It was through this community and his reengagement with the arts that allowed him to envision a world outside of those prison walls he was once told he would die behind - a vision that ultimately came true.

To learn more about Henry you can visit his website or follow him on Instagram. To support an organization serving systems-impacted Indigenous people, check out Indigenous Justice. Finally, looking for a book to learn more about the plight of Natives in the penal system, purchase Dr. Luana Ross' book here.

Numbers 12:6

He said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.

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In our continued effort to explore creative ways to influence policy change we are fortunate to have this time to hear from abolitionist and disability rights activist, Dara Baldwin. In anticipation of her book release, To Be a Problem: A Black Woman's Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement Dara and I spoke about her work and how it influenced the writing of her book. You can get your copy of To Be a Problem: A Black Woman's Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement on Tuesday, July 9th (**revision** out now!) in stores and online!

Interested in learning more about the disabled community in prison, read this article here. To support Dara and the Center for Disability click here.

John 9:2-3

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

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What would you say to your local officials to convince them to invest more in the arts for the sake of safer more healed communities? One of today's guests said, "I survived by myself in prison. I heal in community." It was the art that allowed Carlos to build community and it is one of the ways that today's guests want to encourage our officials to carefully consider the power of art in policy change. 

In today's episode I'm joined by Editor-in-Chief of Lucky Jefferson 501 (c)(3) nonprofit publishing company on a mission to reimagine a world where social change is impacted by the creative arts. The award-winning publishing company "reforms books and arts education by creating interactive and collaborative community experiences for writers and artists." Today, we discuss one of those most recent interactive community experiences that centers the work talented artists in the city of Chicago. The project is called Beyond the Frame and today you'll hear from not only NaBeela Washington, Editor-in-Chief; you'll also hear from participating artists!

Join in hearing from Marketta Sims, Paxton Murphy and Pablo Mendoza as they everything from their personal journey as artists, the necessity in finding safe space like what was built with Beyond the Frame and how art has the power to transform the lives of those coming home after years of incarceration.

Ezekiel 11:19

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh."

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