Minnesota
Billboards: Transforming advertising space into visions of a youth driven future
After seeing the billboards and banners in Philadelphia, the youth leaders from the End Youth Prisons MN campaign got to work writing poetry and developing messaging. Each young person worked 1:1 with Mark Strandquist to create portraits that capture the attention of viewers and emphasize the power of their campaign vision. Next, in collaboration with local and national artists, they art directed compositions that illustrated a Minnesota that affirms both youth dreams and leadership.
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
January 2023
During the #NoKidsInPrison exhibition, billboards and banners stretched across the Twin Cities infusing youth created abolitionist messaging into the cityscape. The presence of the art launched conversations about ending youth incarceration and drove people to the exhibition for even deeper learning and imagining. These beautiful collaborative designs were also printed on large banners and installed in locations across the city, helping to make these future dreams a reality! Huge thanks to our partners for hosting these beautiful banners (Legal Rights Center and Springboard for the Arts).
Often times we say youth are the future but I don’t agree with that. … They are ‘the now!’”—Lupita Herrera, Community Strategy Program Director, Legal Rights Center
Credits
- Billboard/banner artistsAmir Khadar, Philadelphia Shyama Kuver (Heart Over Crown), DC Katie Kaplan, Philadelphia andres guzman, Minneapolis Jackie Fawne, New York Myc Daz, Minneapolis Hawwa Youngmark, Minneapolis Sharita Towne, Portland Jennifer White Johnson, Baltimore
- Billboard workshop participantsAdia, Marrea, Dallas, Sreeja, Tyshawn, Aaliyah, Gabe, Myleeyah, Mira, Johnny
