Supporting the Staten Island Youth Justice Center at "Inside/Outside Legislative Theatre" Performance

On June 4th, a group of the Red Hook Youth Court members and staff went to see the "Theater of the Oppressed NYC" performance at the New School. Before attending this event, the youth court members had no idea that anything like this went on! While there, we learned that 12 different legislative laws were changed through something called "Legislative Theatre." The audience members get to be "spect-actors," which is great because the actual audience members got to participate in the play themselves and share their ideas.

The performances last night were put on by members of the Staten Island Youth Justice Center (part of the Center for Court Innovation Family). These two plays dealt with real life issues such as getting stopped for not paying your bus fare, arriving late to school and getting sent to the principal's office because of the "zero tolerance policy," getting into fights at school, not knowing one's rights, and being racially discriminated against by one's peers, and even police corruption.

Not only did the Red Hook Youth Court members serve as "spect-actors," but one of our very own Senior Members, Kellon Garrick, got up on stage and acted out his own version of the skit. The members were excited and didn't want to leave when it was time to do so. It is incredible to see our youth be so involved in what is going on in our world today and share their thoughts and opinions with others. These youth will ultimately be our future and this legislative theater process allows their voices to be heard, loud and clear!