(Baltimore, MD)– Today, March 23rd, Mi Espacio students was recognized at the Baltimore City Council meeting for their exemplary efforts toward reducing youth violence in Baltimore. Born out of public health sessions, Mi Espacio is CASA’s after-school youth leadership program and works on violence reduction.
Through a collaborative process, Mi Espacio youth decided to focus their efforts on an anti-violence and unity campaign targeting their peers.
Working together with a MICA graduate student and CASA staff to develop images and messages to promote unity, strength, non-violence, and solidarity, they turned the images and messages into posters that will be displayed in over 15 schools in East and South-East Baltimore, as well as on 8 city buses and in 8 city bus shelters in the neighborhoods where the students live. They are also on display in the City Hall Rotunda.
The messages are all bilingual, targeting Latino and non-Latino youth, and portray the student artists as visual representations of positive messages. The students presented the posters to school principals, administrators, and to leadership in the department of health and police.
The program is supported through partnerships between CASA, MICA, MTA, the Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore City Schools, Baltimore Health Department, and Southeast CDC.
Mi Espacio youth will be recognized at the start of the City Council meeting at 5pm and will be available for interview before and after.
