News and Events
EASTERN UNIVERSITY CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS SEPT. 26
The Criminalization of Urban Youth: a Juvenile Justice Issue
St. Davids, PA, September 5, 2008: Are you concerned about youth violence? Are you concerned about the racial disparities in decisions to waive juveniles to adult courts? Are you concerned about disproportionate minority confinement in correctional facilities and detention centers? Are you concerned about the “business” of building prisons? Are you concerned about how public perceptions of urban youth may affect how they are treated in various systems including the judicial system? Are you wondering what a just response is to such things?
Eastern University presents The Criminalization of Urban Youth: a Juvenile Justice Issue on Sept. 26 at 10th and Spring Garden Streets, Philadelphia, PA. A Best Practices Networking Reception will begin at 5:00 p.m. and the discussion forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. R.S.V.P. required. Space limited. For information or to register, contact 215.769.3122 or visit www.eastern.edu/urbanma.
This program brings together faith-based organizations, community leaders, social service providers, those involved in the judicial system, urban youth and all who are concerned about crime among urban youth. Leaders in the youth and criminal justice fields, Paul Conway, Esquire (Philadelphia Defenders Association), John Rush (Justice and Mercy, Inc.; New Person Center), and Deborah Stith, M.D. (Harvard School of Public Health) will frame the issue, share best practices and engage community leaders to identify solutions. Discussion will focus on two questions. First, how have perceptions of urban youth impacted or been impacted by such things as violence, legislation, policing, judicial sentences, and media portrayals? Second, what are just and effective Christian responses to the injustices urban youth face?
This is a program of Eastern University, a Christian university and a strong and vocal advocate for social justice issues. The Criminalization of Youth is the first in a series of Church and Community Conversations designed to build the capacity of local faith-based and community-based organizations committed to addressing chronic issues concerning poverty, violence, health and education in the Philadelphia community. Additional programs in the series will address economic development in February 2009 and education in May 2009.
These programs are sponsored by Eastern University’s School for Social Change and the School for Leadership and Development. Other collaborating organizations include Eastern’s Center for Community Education, MA in Urban Studies Program, MA in Organizational Leadership, MS in Nonprofit Management, MBA in Economic Development, Center for Urban Youth Development and Palmer Seminary, as well as the Mayor’s Office of Faith-based Initiatives, the Black Religious Scholars Group and National Ministries, American Baptist Churches.
Eastern is a Christian university of the arts and sciences located at 1300 Eagle Road in St. Davids, PA. Eastern enrolls about 4000 students in its undergraduate, graduate, professional, urban, Seminary and international programs. Its School for Social Change is committed to preparing men and women to help transform neighborhoods, communities and lives. The School of Leadership and Development prepares leaders to serve and develop communities globally.
For more information contact:
Kimberlee Johnson: 215-769-3128 or kjohnso2@eastern.edu
