The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement is reaching out to members of the community in an effort to keep young people, particularly minorities, from joining the ranks of the incarcerated.
The organization’s Teen Social Justice Committee is hosting the "First Annual End School to Prison Pipeline" event Saturday, September 23, 2017, at the Athens Clarke County Library. AADM is launching a new advocacy program in order to reduce the disproportionate impact on minority students due to school suspension and expulsion policies. Co-founder and President Mokah Johnson says those policies result in often insurmountable consequences.
“As an educator I feel for these children, they make simple mistakes which will end them up in jail as opposed to giving them a second chance and it stays on their records,” according to Johnson. “Our organization offers teen Know Your Rights workshops.”
She says it’s important for students to know how to respond if they find themselves in trouble. AADM’s workshops provide guidance.
“If a situation happens in school, what do you do, what are your rights, when can you ask to speak to your parents, what should you say, what you should not say.”
The conference begins at 9:30 am with a mindfulness session and refreshments, followed by workshops for teachers and staff, parents, and students.
Guests speakers include John Lash with the Georgia Conflict Center, ACC School Board Member Ovita Thornton and attorney Nancee Tomlinson.
According to the AADM, on average, states spend $88,000 to incarcerate youth but only $10,000 to educate them. In the past 20 years, the amount spent on incarceration, parole and probation increased 6 times more than money for colleges and universities.
Through 2017-2018 In addition to advocating for civil rights, AADM will also focus on promoting education not incarceration, improving polling and race relations, and advocating for minority business development in downtown Athens.
End School to Prison Pipeline Conference
Saturday, September 23rd
Time: 9:30-1:30 pm
Where: 2025 Baxter Street Athens, Ga 30606
Workshops:
- Mindfulness
- Know Your Rights
- Diversity and Inclusion in the Classroom
- Restorative Justice
- Conflict Resolution
- Review ACC School Codes and Policies
- ESPP Advocate Roles and Responsibilities
- Juvenile Justice
