Sketching out the programmatic features of Making Justice

A library program dedicated to court-involved youth

Abstract

This article sketches out programmatic features that contribute to the success of Making Justice, a public library community program for court-involved youth. This article features images from a collaboration with Lauren Lauter, an educational scholar and artist, alongside text to highlight three programmatic features: aesthetic expression, embracing the present, and reaching out and stepping back. In contrast to traditional forms of education, in particular carceral education, Making Justice offers much needed space for teens to express themselves through the arts and have access to resources allocated for their current enjoyment and wellbeing. This program is predicated on trust that learning can come in multiple forms, matter for multiple reasons, and be determined by the learners themselves.