Through a mix of art, research, policy briefs, advocacy training, personal narrative writing, videography, and photography, Newark youth will grapple with the effects of COVID-19 on their communities. They will also study the historical disparities in access to public health, education and employment. Youth participants will learn how to conduct community engaged research to document the world as it is today in the middle of a pandemic and envision an equitable world of the future.
The Gem Project fellows rehearsed for several days their youth rally and platforms, which launched also their briefs and virtual museum, which toured live. The Abbott Leadership Institute youth leaders conducted interviews with the including key interviews with Superintendent of Newark Public Schools, Roger Leon, Chancellor of Rutgers University, Nancy Cantor and Mayor Ras J Baraka. The most exciting progress was seeing our youth fall into their leadership and drive their interviews, LIVE events and material themselves!
Our youth worked so hard for this LIVE event, which brought on lively conversation and performances with BYHAZE, vocal artist and organizer; Dr. Shereef Elnahal, CEO & President of University Hospital; Councilwoman LaMonica McIver, council member of Central Ward in Newark, NJ; Dr. Chris T. Pernell, Chief Strategic Integration and Health Equity Officer at University Hospital; Terrell A. Blount, MPA, Motivational Speaker and Activist; Mia Legaspi-Cavin, MA, Criminal Justice Reform professional; A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, member of Newark School Board of Education and CEO/Founder of SHE Wins, Inc.; and Tyneisha Gibbs, founder of 144th & Vine, LLC and White Riley Peterson Policy Fellow. The recording can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=3372033102853275.