Honoring National Restorative Justice Month: Celebrating Healing, Art, and Community
November is National Restorative Justice Month, a time to recognize the power of healing, accountability, and community connection. This year, Mural Arts Restorative Justice is proud to highlight a special collaboration and milestone that embodies these values.
Faces of Resilience: Art as Healing
On November 19 from 4—6 pm, Creative Philadelphia, in partnership with the office of Councilman Jim Harrity, will host an inspiring art exhibition presented by Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Barnes Foundation — Faces of Resilience. This powerful showcase features artwork created by artists from the Mural Arts SCI Phoenix Program. Also on display will be pieces from the recent Where I’m From exhibition, created by artists in the Mural Arts Rec Crew Program. Each piece tells a story of strength, transformation, and the journey toward restoration, offering the public an intimate look at the human side of justice.
The Faces of Resilience exhibition is more than an art display — it’s a testament to how creativity can support recovery, reflection, and renewal within our communities.
City Resolution Recognizing Restorative Justice Month
On November 20 at 10:00 am, the City Council will enter a formal resolution honoring the Restorative Justice Department and recognizing November as Restorative Justice Month. This moment marks the City’s continued commitment to restorative practices as a means of building safer, more compassionate communities through accountability, empathy, and repair.
Restorative Justice Night at Triple Bottom Brewing
On November 20 at 6:00 pm, Mural Arts Restorative Justice will host its final Restorative Justice Night for 2025. This collaboration between Triple Bottom and Mural Arts Restorative Justice has been a huge success this year, drawing in new faces and organizations every month to share community, hear powerful stories, and enjoy art and music by justice-impacted artists and musicians.  We look forward to wrapping up the year with another great panel and musical guests.
Together, these events shine a light on the individuals and organizations working every day to create pathways to healing and reconciliation.
Join us in celebrating Restorative Justice Month — and in reaffirming the belief that justice can be both transformative and restorative.
Defenders Association Art Sale
Join us for the annual Defenders Association Art Sale on December 2, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The art sale will amplify the voices of incarcerated artists while ensuring they are compensated for their creative work. Featuring original artwork by artists at SCI Phoenix, this event celebrates art, justice, and community. Enjoy food, beverages, and conversation as we gather to support creativity and second chances.
For over 80 years, the Defender Association of Philadelphia has provided high-quality, client-centered legal representation, courtroom advocacy, and social service connections for underserved communities. Mural Arts Philadelphia has worked inside SCI Phoenix (formerly SCI Graterford) for over twenty years. Artists in the program have contributed to over 50 murals across the city and participated in multiple exhibitions. Register here.
