Albert M. Greenfield Restorative Justice Program

The Albert M. Greenfield Restorative Justice Program is a groundbreaking program created to address community healing in the wake of increased crime and violence. The Mural Arts Program has initiated this public art and social justice project as a continuation of successful partnerships with communities on innovative anti-violence projects like Healing Walls and All Join Hands: Visions of Peace.

A crucial element to healing the wounds caused by crime in a community is ensuring that every individual who is impacted by crime is engaged in a long-term process of restoration. The Mural Arts Program has worked closely with youth coming out of juvenile placement to re-connect with their neighborhood. The Albert M. Greenfield Restorative Justice Program exposes youth to a variety of options and opportunities for creative expression that will give them a safe space to address the complex social issues that they face on a daily basis.

Through the generous sponsorship of The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, and in partnership with the Department of Human Services and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Greenfield Restorative Justice Program focused the first of two years of work on a community in the Logan/Olney neighborhood of North Philadelphia. The overarching goal of The Albert M. Greenfield Restorative Justice Program has been to implement a restorative justice model that will unite the community and youth through an intensive process of encounter and exchange.



Restoration, © 2008 City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program / Eric Okdeh, 922 Lindley Avenue (at Hutchinson Street)

Two nationally renowned consultants in the field of restorative justice were part of the process from the beginning—Grady Hillman and Howard Zehr. This past winter, Hillman facilitated a meeting in the community. During this session he worked with members to identify key 'cultural treasures' in the community—members of the area who embody the values and morals that Logan/Olney wish to uphold. In May, visiting artist and consultant Zehr assisted the youth in interviewing these individuals. He took portraits of both the participating community members and the youth involved.

Through The Albert M. Greenfield Restorative Justice Program, we help the process of restitution and restorative justice by using mural-making as a vehicle of engagement and connection. The youth worked closely with muralist Eric Okdeh and poet/writer Phoebe Zinman to enhance their artistic skills through weekly workshops. Students learned the basics to mural-making and glass mosaic as well as creative writing processes that were geared toward preparing them for the interviews. The youth worked side-by-side with community members and Eric Okdeh to create a large-scale work of public art at 922 Lindley Ave titled Restoration. The mural reflects the values and history of the Logan/Olney community and transforms this public space.