Kids for Justice Program
The CITYarts Kids for Justice program encourages students to develop and express their thoughts on justice through art. At-risk youth meet with judicial representatives to discuss justice and social responsibility. Based on the ideas they draw in art and brainstorming workshops lead by professional artists, they create a permanent mural for their school.
Past representatives include Judge Michael A. Corriero, Judge Eugene Oliver, Jr., and actress and activist, Susan Sarandon.
Current Projects
Recently former Federal District Court Chief Judge Kevin H. Sharp introduced us to artist Leonard Peltier. Our Youth are writing to the president to commute Leonard. A book of his art and call for action was published by CITYarts.
"I want to feel the sun on my skin..." This is 77-year-old American Indian Leonard Peltier's plea to President Biden as he begins his 47th year of captivity after being wrongfully imprisoned in 1975.
This book, Leonard Peltier – Art Behind Bars: Dreams of Freedom presents his beautiful paintings, the fruits of his vivid imagination, that he created in prison, keeping him alive as he continues to serve two consecutive life sentences. Former Federal District Court Chief Judge Kevin H. Sharp, who strongly believes in his innocence and works on his case pro-bono, is passionately pursuing a compassionate release for Leonard.
In addition to Leonard's art and life story, this book includes the many voices that call for his release through the years. From James H. Reynolds, the former US attorney who prosecuted Leonard Peltier, to heads of state like Nelson Mandela, religious figures like Pope Francis, and to celebrities like Peter Coyote, Robert Redford, Willie Nelson, Connie Nelson, Sheron Wyant-Leonard, Barbara Kopple, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, and Mark Ruffalo; we hope more voices will join in the dedicated movement to #FreeLeonardPeltier and use the "How You Can Help" section in the book and his art for inspiration.
