LOVE • OUTREACH • UNITY
The Justice League L.O.U. is dedicated to promoting the principles of social, environmental, food and economic justice, and respect for everyone. JLLOU will study and learn about critical local and global social justice issues, like poverty, mass incarceration, racial segregation, urban violence, food deserts, environmental destruction, and other forms of inequality and injustice, and the importance of self-care/health and wellness. As a result, youth activists/scholars will further develop empathy, and hone critical thinking skills while engaging with a variety of perspectives and global issues.
We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.
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First Class Remix||Mighty Shades of Ebony||Official Music Video||#JackHarlow
MISSION STATEMENT
Teaching cultural and environmental topics in order to build
compassionate and dynamic citizens of the world
that will make a positive difference today and tomorrow.
VISION STATEMENT
Justice league love, outreach and unity is a nonprofit organization that is youth lead whose aim is to build tomorrow's leaders today by guiding them to hone their passions and to activate those passions into the world community our methodology is based in finding youth and fanning the flames of their intellectual curiosity by teaching interdisciplinary common core content across curriculum. Picture a world where there is a generation of young people who are inspired to do good in the world; through community building, data collection, and project-based learning which will in turn serve to empower them to help create the world they want to see.
PROJECT ASKS
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We need the city to fund this work: donate all canvases (trashcans, dumpsters, 1 sanitation truck), vinyl wraps, and an annual stipend for artists to work with JCPS students. We want to be put on the city budget to bring this project into fruition.
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The city purchases and upkeeps the air-quality monitors.
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For the city to market and promote the Tricked Out Trash Cans Environmental and Social Justice Initiative in our city as an artistic and environmental staple in our community (like the Derby Horses). Too often, we are known as the city with poor air quality and other environmental issues- we want to be one of the leaders in the nation on making a clean and healthy environment a high priority.
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We're asking for sustainable relationships with community partners to support these initiatives and help systemize this work.
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We are asking for a group (or person) from Metro Government we can consistently work with on this project for the long haul and be true partners.
Project Description
Tricked Out Trash Cans Emerald City Initiative: To address environmental justice concerns in redlined areas, specifically: littering, self-care, and air-quality- we are creating digital art to "muralize" trash cans, dumpsters, and a sanitation truck with art that uplifts, informs, and beautifies community with a growth mindset. This project goes hand in hand with our breathe campaign where we are advocating for air-quality-monitors in red-lined areas, so that residents can be aware of the quality of air they're breathing.
VISION STATEMENT
This Organization is designed to develop and nurture young leaders, mentors and role models for the purpose of becoming successful individuals that intend to impact their communities in a meaningful way. Scholar leaders will become inspired to believe in themselves and each other as valuable members of society. College education, sense of responsibility to uplift the community and career path development will be a primary focus. Athletics will be promoted in order to encourage physical fitness, team building and leadership skills.
The activating of passion in the community through the arts will serve as the foundation for operating this program. This philosophy promotes the development of people as total human beings through exposure to the arts, academic excellence, philosophical discussion, debate, cultural diversity and empowerment, real world connections, developing positive self esteem, positive self image, self discipline, and creating a nurturing environment for young people to flourish. After becoming empowered, the ideal is that these individuals will be inspired to reach back to others and pull them up by spreading what they have found inside themselves.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Community involvement will play a critical role for the success of this program. These people bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise that transforms theory into reality. Once scholars are able to come into direct contact with people that are professionals who are successfully participating in society, they will become more apt to envisioning themselves as being able to realize their own dreams. There are many members in the community who relish the chance to reach out to help others but may not be presented the opportunity.
The Justice League L.O.U. (Love Outreach Unity) seeks to connect scholars with MSE “edutainers” in our community. Presently we are working with 150 youth ranging from ages of 11-16 years old in Louisville, Kentucky.
Through our programming, youth in Louisville’s underinvested neighborhoods:
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Learn to develop music projects (such as Hip Hop songs, videos, etc.) that address social and environmental issues;
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Create programming
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Share programming with other youth, becoming young entrepreneurs. We are very much interested in bringing more youth into leadership roles in a movement toward a plant-based lifestyle, one that informs and celebrates the young black organizers who helped create this movement in the 1970s. Two ideas we have include:
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Creating a Hip Hop is Green (HHG) Chapter in Louisville. This would connect us to a nationwide movement of other youth working to bring awareness of food justice and a plant-based lifestyle through music and videos; and,
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In line with what other HHG Chapters are doing in other cities, host a series of Hip Hop Green Dinners. HHG Dinners are a national health initiative set in urban communities and designed to introduce new people, especially youth, to delicious, healthy vegan food. The Green Dinners are most attendees' first introduction to a vegan meal and are a perfect combination of information and entertainment.
There are many studies that show a lifestyle focused on eating mainly fresh food (plants) is the key to so many other social determinants of health, including educational achievement. Our focus on utilizing art to bring awareness to my community’s food insecurity challenges, and then making fresh food more readily accessible will help people my age improve all aspects of their lives, including boosting mental, physical, social and emotional wellness.
We are working on several other initiatives surrounding redlining and environmental racism that are currently in motion. It is our hope that you will become our fiscal sponsor and mentor in order to help us evolve and become more impactful in our community.
CURRICULUM
Film
Scholars will be introduced to the art filming, editing, directing, concept development, video production, etc.
Financial Literacy
Scholars will be introduced to strategies to build entrepreneurship and building generational wealth, which will teach them how to budget, analyze, and organize their finances.
Investment
Scholars will be introduced to the stock market, how it operates, why it exists, how to invest, how to project financial growth potential, etc.
Poetry
Scholars will be introduced to different forms of poetry, why it is important, how to write it, how to perform it, etc.
Art
Scholars will be introduced to the four elements of art (drama, visual art, music, and dance) which will allow them to tap into their realized and hidden talents.
Health
Scholars will be introduced to ways of properly caring for themselves through proper diet, hygiene, exercise, etc.
Leadership
Scholars will be introduced to activities, discussions, and practices that develop leadership skills, mentoring skills, and how to become a positive role model.
Empowerment
Scholars will be introduced to various cultures, cultural contributions to the world, cultural diversity, cultural similarities, how to become empowered, how to utilize empowerment, developing mutual respect and tolerance for all cultures, etc.
Music and Film
Scholars will be introduced to various technological skills, how to utilize those skills, why it is important to develop and implement technology as a practical matter of importance, etc.
Athletics
Scholars will engage in athletics to promote physical exercise, healthy competition, develop team building and leadership skills.
Educational Philosophy
ARTS IN THE CURRICULUM
The power of the arts as tools for learning across the curriculum is immense and explosive. I believe true education must include the arts as part of the curriculum. It is a catalyst for true learning and human growth and development. This philosophy led me to creating the group, “The Mighty Shades of Ebony.”
Dr. John Dewey, Dr. Pualo Friere, Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, Dr. Naim Akbar, Ron Clark and Eric Jensen, who wrote, “Teaching with Poverty in Mind”, which calls for the arts one key aspect for developing multi-dimensional well rounded citizens. In order for education to come to life, students must be able to experience a happening rather than just memorize standards True education inspires human beings to develop themselves mentally and then give back to the community in return.
Experiencing the professional development “Integrating Arts into the Curriculum” that was held at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, supports the District’s “new vision” because it falls under the umbrella of the "theory of action." In fact, Rick Stiggins put on a seminar on 10-05-09 at Freedom Hall or JCPS teachers. According to Stiggins, this theory is supported by research through the COP study and the Resnic study, whereas, the teacher creates a caring and culturally responsive learning community.
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Jefferson County Public Schools has endorsed an initiated that promotes building relationships and validating all students through cultural connectivity. For example, if our JCPS students were surveyed, we believe the majority would identify rap and hip hop as the music that expresses a significant part of their generational culture. Research also supports that the ability of a teacher to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and cultural competence enhances student’s performance outcomes.
Furthermore, artistic skill sets enhance student’s ability to create a story accompanied by a rhyme scheme. It also helps students think on their feet while simultaneously overcoming fears of performing or speaking in a public setting, which relates to speaking and listening KCAS standards. The ultimate goal is to have students create “raps” that are incorporated into language arts curriculum. As a result, the curriculum becomes more effective because the classroom transforms into a learning community that is a fun and exciting place to be. Blending fun into rigorous curriculum is a recipe for success.
