SEPTEMBER 2013, VOLUME 3, NUMBER 8
 

IN THIS ISSUE 

How Art Heals 

2013 National Summit 

Announcements & Upcoming Events 

• Training Opportunities 

News & Views 

• Reports 

• News 

• Other Resources 

HOW ART HEALS:
 A PORTRAIT OF 

BROTHERLY LOVE 

We Rise! © 2013 City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program 

Josh Sarantitis; Photo by Steve Weinik 

"Art heals, art unites, and art changes minds in a 

convincing fashion. Art drives the agenda. Great 

art is never silent, can't be ignored, and serves 

poorly the status quo." —City of Philadelphia 

Mural Arts Program 

In Philadelphia, murals are more than works of 

art. They are bold exhibits of the truth and 

2013 NATIONAL 

SUMMIT 

Third Annual Summit on Preventing Youth Violence a Huge 

Success 

Perhaps Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott best captured the 

spirit of the Third Annual Summit on Preventing Youth Violence on 

September 26–27, 2013, in Arlington, Va., with his reading of the 

poem "The Fence or the Ambulance," by Joseph Malines. This 

ode to the need for prevention asks the simple question, "Is it not 

better to stop people from falling off the cliff rather than rushing 

them to the hospital after they are injured?" Its significance was 

echoed in many of the presentations made by speakers at the 

Summit. 

The theme of the conference, "Building Towards a Safe and 

Healthy Tomorrow," was captured by Robert L. Listenbee, 

Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 

Prevention, who said "The common framework that we have 

worked so hard to develop was very well-received. Participants 

now understand the importance of also promoting child and youth 

well-being and using this framework across multiple systems to 

produce positive outcomes for children, youth, and families." 

Gretchen Musicant, Health Department Commissioner of 

Minneapolis, Minn., was moved by Congressman Scott's reading 

of the poem, saying "It related to the work we do with the Forum." 

She appreciated the different cities' youth-oriented ways of 

describing their work, including, "The more you know, the more 

you owe." 

The Summit brought together 375 people from the 10 Forum 

cities, 13 Defending Childhood Initiative grantees, 15 CommunityBased Violence Prevention Program grantees, and three Striving 

To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE) grantees, as 

well as many other interested state, local, and federal 

participants. 

If prevention was the theme of the conference, collaboration and 

partnerships were the background music. Wanda Moore, a 

member of the Camden, N.J., Forum team and Director of the 

New Jersey Office of Community Justice, valued the convening of 

grantees for the "prevention focus it brought to the Summit." 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

resilience that result when creativity goes beyond
 

inspiration and self-expression to truly heal
 

people and communities.
 

On October 21, 2013, Assistant Attorney General
 

Karol V. Mason and Philadelphia Mayor Michael
 

Nutter visited the Mural Arts Program's Guild,
 

which supports former inmates reentering society
 

and at-risk youth by teaching job attainment and
 

retention skills. Mayor Nutter praised the Guild
 

while Assistant Attorney General Mason noted
 

Philadelphia's participation in the National Forum
 

effort. "Mayor Nutter and civic and neighborhood
 

leaders here have been wonderful partners in this
 

work," she said, which was documented in an
 

OJP Facebook post. "They are showing what a
 

difference strong local leadership, supported at
 

the federal level, can make. And they're
 

demonstrating the benefits of bringing together all
 

groups with a stake in the safety of our youth—
 

law enforcement, educators, community and faithbased organizations, health professionals,
 

businesses and philanthropies, citizens, and, of
 

course, young people themselves." 

Nearly 30 years ago, a young artist from New
 

Jersey led the 6-week anti-graffiti project that
 

eventually became the Philadelphia Mural Arts
 

Program—one of the most well-known and
 

successful public art projects in the country. Jane
 

Golden was the visionary who saw Philadelphia's
 

artistic potential. Under her direction, the Mural
 

Arts Program has created more than 3,600 public
 

works of art, collaborating with agencies and
 

organizations of all kinds to restore city
 

neighborhoods while giving young people a
 

chance to break the cycle of crime and violence.
 

Through award-winning art education programs
 

and a partnership with the Philadelphia
 

Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual
 

disAbility Services, Mural Arts serves 1,800 youth
 

every year. Mural making is the artistic means
 

through which young people learn life and job
 

skills and build connections to their communities.
 

The initiative also extends to local prisons and
 

rehabilitation centers and offers opportunities for
 

those recently released from prison.
 

Three programs in particular, Art Education,
 

Porch Light, and Restorative Justice, share a goal
 

to promote the well-being and positive outcomes
 

of young people.
 

Art Education's efforts, including
 

Foundations+Innovations, Emerging Muralists,
 

and Restorative Justice Youth, are geared toward
 

at-risk youth. Participants ages 10 to 22 are
 

taught practical skills through conceptualization,
 

design, and creation of large-scale murals and
 

public art projects. The young people involved in
 

the program are benefitting in many ways,
 

especially with improved self-esteem, confidence,
 

The act of bringing together invested groups that have similar 

goals is a constructive way to enhance cooperation and 

partnership. San Jose Forum Site Coordinator Mario Maciel said it 

was "great seeing the new cities in comparison to the old ... no 

matter where the city is, large or small, we all have the same 

issues." 

Chris Gunther, Forum Coordinator from New Orleans, La., echoed 

Mario's comments: "It's always surprising, although intuitive, that 

we are all dealing with the same issues and challenges even 

though we are different cities. At the end of the day, the 

challenges we all face are very similar." 

It's clear our cities and problems are not as unique as we think 

they are. Although the politics or processes in strategic planning 

may vary, Forum sites have clearly developed the confidence to 

apply data-driven, best-practice solutions to prevention, 

intervention, law enforcement, and reentry. We may take different 

approaches, but the principles applied to these solutions are 

getting more consistent as we share experiences and information. 

Julie Wertheimer, Forum Coordinator for Philadelphia, Pa., 

discussed the difficulties Philadelphia successfully navigated in its 

strategic planning process and how reinvigorated the team was 

as a result of the Summit. "We found out we were already doing 

some things other Forum sites were just starting to do, and it 

made us feel good as we were on the same path as others." But 

the Philadelphia team was also exposed to new information, such 

as the presentation on Purpose Built Communities, a program 

that resonated with the city because it simply had not yet surfaced 

in their strategic planning process and made such good sense. 

Michelle Fowlkes, Executive Director of the Memphis Shelby 

Crime Commission, and Julie Wertheimer also expressed a desire 

to visit other Forum cities to learn how they are dealing with 

prevention and explore the potential for collaboration and effective 

partnerships. 

Overall, Summit participants found the event inspiring and many 

said they were moved by Equal Justice Initiative Executive 

Director Bryan Stevenson's presentation at the end of day one. 

He stressed the need to change the narrative of youth who get 

involved in the juvenile justice system. "They have an expectation 

that they will be incarcerated or dead by age 21. They should be 

seen as 'super-victims' rather than 'super-predators.'" He said 

working in prevention is difficult, but essential. "You will have 

bruises and cuts when you're trying to make a difference. It is an 

exhausting and challenging undertaking, but it is a worthy one." 

Stevenson's closing remarks were a motivational highlight for all 

attendees. 

While most participants were eager to replace the ambulance with 

prevention strategies, data-driven best practices, and stronger 

partnerships, there was the understanding that such a transition 

would take time, effort, and careful consideration. Becoming 

solely proactive—as opposed to reactive—in the fight against 

youth violence may soon be a reality. At any rate, after 2 days at 

the Summit, it was clear we know more today about dealing with 

violence than ever before. 

Note: A special edition of the Forum newsletter will review Summit 

presentations and reinforce their valuable lessons. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and stronger relationships as they become 

connected to a broader community of citizens and 

artists. 

The Porch Light Program engages 10- to 18-yearolds who are involved in social or behavioral 

health programs and services, and strives to 

improve health outcomes, reduce stigma, and 

increase the use of behavioral health services. To 

enhance resilience and recovery, youth practice 

social skills, self-expression, and abstract 

thinking. Participants have gained greater selfesteem, self-confidence, and hope for the future 

as they take pride in giving back to the 

community. While it does not focus specifically on 

crime reduction, Porch Light is working closely 

with the Yale School of Medicine to assess the 

health-related impact of its programs on people 

and communities. 

According to a 15-state study, 66 percent of exoffenders return to prison within 3 years of their 

release (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1994; 2002). 

Through 2011, only 10 percent of reentry workers 

employed by Mural Arts reoffended within a year 

of their release. Michael Whittington, a program 

participant who spent 5 years in prison for a crime 

he committed as a teenager, now mentors at-risk 

youth and other former inmates involved with the 

Guild. His story was told by Philly.com in 

October. 

Restorative Justice emphasizes "healing" and 

involves the victim, offender, and community in 

the process. Through weekly programs and 

opportunities for involvement, Mural Arts provides 

art instruction to more than 300 inmates and 200 

juveniles every year. Participants learn new skills 

and make positive contributions with murals and 

community service work. 

There is a growing body of evidence on the 

practice and efficacy of art therapy. Outcome 

studies show positive changes in trauma 

reduction, self-esteem, self-control, ability to 

function in a social environment, and recidivism. 

Art Making as a Component and Facilitator of 

Resiliency with Homeless Youth (2008) used 

quantitative (n = 212) and qualitative (n = 3) 

measures to examine creativity and art production 

with respect to resiliency among homeless youth 

at a drop-in art center. Quantitative methods 

identified a strong correlation between individuals' 

engagement in creative activity and achievement. 

In a study conducted among urban African 

American female adolescents, group members 

took part in expressive activities intended to 

expose them to new experiences and increase 

their confidence and awareness of personal 

strengths and talents. Qualitative results revealed 

the group therapy helped the girls with emotional 

exploration, increasing self-esteem and 

decreasing anxiety. Initiatives like Alternative 

NEWS 

& VIEWS 

Reports 

New Directions in Child Abuse and Neglect Research 

The National Academies' Institute of Medicine and National 

Research Council, 2013 

In a newly released report, the Institute of Medicine examines 

research findings on the causes and consequences of child abuse 

and neglect and the effectiveness of intervention programs. 

Child Welfare Outcomes 2008–2011: Report to Congress 

Children's Bureau, 2013 

Outcome measures used in this report on child protection and 

child welfare program performance focus on seven categories, 

including children's safety and care, overall well-being, and the 

permanency of family and living situations. 

News 

'Smart on Crime' Initiative 

Ceasefire Detroit, a new effort announced by Attorney General 

Eric Holder, will focus on violent crime prevention. Ceasefire will 

cover the Detroit Police Department's Eastern District and work to 

reduce gang violence. What makes the program unique is the 

street group members, who describe the consequences of 

neighborhood violence and help end violent crime. 

Menino's Investment in Summer Jobs 

Mayor Thomas Menino has long championed summer jobs for 

youth. Every year, Boston reserves several million dollars of the 

city's $2.6 billion annual budget. But Mayor Menino also allots 

state and federal dollars to help place teens in positions at a 

range of nonprofits throughout the city. Over 20 years, he has put 

about $150 million into government funding and created more 

than 200,000 summer jobs. 

Other Resources 

Changing Course: Preventing Gang Membership will help 

practitioners and policymakers make decisions to prevent kids 

from joining gangs. Based on best available evidence, the book 

examines why youth are attracted to gangs as well as key child 

development issues and prevention strategies. 

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has released six 

online briefs discussing key elements of a trauma-informed 

juvenile justice system. Topics include current issues and new 

directions for creating trauma-informed systems, assessment and 

interventions, family engagement, and reducing racial disparities 

within the system. 

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has 

updated its Statistical Briefing Book (SBB). SBB offers access 

to numerous juvenile justice resources, with data analysis tools 

for creating custom evaluations of juvenile populations, arrests, 

court cases, and residential placement. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solutions for Youth and Y.O.U.R. Community
 

Center also incorporate art therapy in programs
 

for pre-adjudicated, adjudicated, and foster care
 

youth and violence and drug use prevention.
 

"Art saves lives" is Jane Golden's personal 

mantra—a philosophy that is best reflected at 701 

North Broad Street, where We Rise! Children, 

Trauma, and Resilience depicts the light and 

hope of youth who have faced true adversity. We 

Rise! acknowledges that young people's 

experience of and involvement with violence 

leaves a lasting impact. The art does not diminish 

the gravity of trauma but recognizes the resilience 

that propels young people forward. Participants 

and viewers are seen as survivors, not victims. 

With art making, storytelling, and a great vision
 

for design, We Rise! aims to renew the sense of
 

hope missing from communities and change the
 

perception of who is truly being victimized in
 

communities. In the process, generational
 

changes that affect society—increased gun
 

violence, bullying, and domestic violence—are
 

uncovered while protective factors that help
 

people move away from adversity gain visibility.
 

This article was written with assistance from Amy 

R. Johnston, Information and Events Specialist,
 

City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.
 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

& UPCOMING EVENTS 

Training Opportunities 

The National Council of Juvenile and Family
 

Court Judges has opened registration for the
 

Family Law Institute for Judges and Lawyers, 

March 2–5, 2014, in Monterey, California. The
 

institute will offer attendees information and tools
 

to improve case processing and outcomes for
 

victims, youth, and families.
 

Contact Us 

Send questions or feedback about the newsletter to 

NFYVP@dsgonline.com or subscribe. 

In "Stories of Change Among Justice-Involved American 

Indian Youth from the Cross-Site Evaluation of OJJDP's 

Tribal Green Reentry Program," youth, parents, and program 

staff share their perspectives on what helps justice-involved 

American Indian youth reduce or end their involvement in the 

tribal juvenile justice system. 

"Highlights of the 2011 National Youth Gang Survey" is a fact 

sheet with findings from the National Youth Gang Survey, which 

collects data from a large representative sample of local law 

enforcement agencies to track the size and scope of the problem. 

The Juvenile Justice Resource Hub provides information on 

juvenile justice issues and trends. The Hub recently added a 

section on community-based alternatives for justice system– 

involved youth. 

A recent study explored whether financial harm associated with 

intimate partner violence (IPV) begins as early as adolescence. 

With longitudinal data from a sample of 498 women currently or 

formerly receiving welfare, researchers used latent growth curve 

modeling to examine relationships between adolescent IPV, 

educational attainment, and women's earnings. They found 

women who had been victimized by a partner during adolescence 

attained less education compared with non-victimized women, 

with victimization indirectly influencing women's earnings via 

educational attainment. 

For more than 10 years, the Education Development Center's 

National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence 

Prevention has worked with communities and schools to 

implement systemic change for children, youth, and families. The 

3 Bold Steps toolkit is a collaborative and easy-to-understand 

resource that offers proven strategies for creating safe schools 

and healthy communities. 

The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention 

Newsletter is prepared under Office of Juvenile 

Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) 

Cooperative Agreement No. 2012–MU–FX–K009 

with Development Services Group, Inc. 

The views, opinions, and content of this newsletter 

are those of the authors, and do not necessarily 

reflect the views, opinions, or policies of OJJDP.