Reflecting on John Legend’s Support for Youth Incarceration Reforms
It’s been a few years since the Grammy Award-winning artist, John Legend, teamed up with Youth First and Advocates to End Youth Incarceration for their #FREEAMERICA Listening Tour. This historic collaboration shed light on the urgent need for reforms in the youth incarceration system. In this blog post, we take a trip down memory lane and revisit the time when Legend visited Washington DC to lend his voice to this critical cause. We will also reflect on the impact of his visit and the ongoing efforts by these organizations to end youth incarceration.
John Legend’s Advocacy for Youth Incarceration Reforms
John Legend, a renowned Oscar, Golden Globe, and nine-time Grammy® Award winner, visited Washington DC on April 24th, as the first stop on his #FREEAMERICA tour to address youth incarceration. The event was live-tweeted and can be revisited here.
Meeting at The Achievement Center
During his visit, Legend spent time at The Achievement Center, a juvenile justice facility. Here, he spoke with kids who had served sentences in youth jails or were currently on probation. Legend also took the time to listen to music created by the kids at the facility. This tour was an opportunity for Legend to listen, learn and use his platform to highlight the issues surrounding youth incarceration.
The #FREEAMERICA Campaign
In his address, Legend highlighted the disturbing trend of juveniles being labeled as criminals for minor offenses, often starting a cycle of incarceration. This inspired the launch of the #FREEAMERICA campaign, a movement aimed at reducing the number of children behind bars and promoting educational equality.
Continuing the Fight Against Youth Incarceration
Liz Ryan, the CEO of Youth First, reiterated the importance of ending youth incarceration. She emphasized the need to redirect resources towards effective community programs for youth rather than setting them on a pipeline to prison. As we reflect on this pivotal moment, we acknowledge the ongoing efforts by these organizations to bring about change.
#EndYouthIncarceration #FREEAMERICA #MusicforChange #JohnLegend #YouthFirst
