In the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, violence isn't just a headline, it can be a daily risk. But at the Firehouse Community Arts Center, Pastor Phil Jackson and his team are interrupting violence through creativity, youth-mentorship, and a loving and active presence on the block.
In this episode we dive into Pastor Phil's decades-long mission to reach youth and young adults labeled as "violent." We explore how The Firehouse Community Arts Center is transforming lives and the community through programs like: violence interruption, art education, and work force development. And we get insights into what is at stake in communities already facing systemic divestment when funding for organizations like The Firehouse falls short.
This is a story where hope pushes the envelope, becomes contagious, and restores self-worth and dignity. It's a story with the kind of hope that spreads into neighborhoods and sparks change.
This season is titled, We Got Us: Stories of Faith, Justice and Collective Hope. It invites you into neighborhoods where hope is cultivated day-by-day. Together we'll explore how neighbors are confronting injustice, cultivating resilience, and creating communities where everyone can flourish. This is what it looks like when we say: We Got Us.
In this episode:
The Firehouse Community Arts Center
North Park Partners with Firehouse Community Arts Center in Violence Reduction Study
The Firehouse Community Arts Center: Leveraging the Arts and a Hyperlocal Approach
Producer, Writer, Host: Roslyn Hernández
Video and Sound Engineer: Nasim Bowlus
Storyteller: Pastor Phil Jackson
A Chasing Justice Podcast Network Production
This podcast season was made possible by Storytellers Collective, a program of Christians for Social Action.
The theme song for this season is We Got Us. It was produced in collaboration with Common Hymnal.
Social links:
Chasing Justice
Instagram: @chasingjustice_
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