In an exciting development for Chester County’s youth, Arts Holding Hands and Heart’s Restorative Justice Filmmaking program is making waves, with a powerful collaboration underway to provide young people on probation with transformative opportunities. Professor Brandi Berry from Lincoln University and Sean Taylor of Visual Jedi LLC are taking the reins as lead filmmakers and educators for the initiative, guiding a new generation of young filmmakers in their quest to learn multimedia skills, mindfulness, and ultimately contribute to a groundbreaking documentary.
The project is particularly noteworthy as it brings together multiple community partners with a shared goal: to provide at-risk youth with positive outlets and career-building tools. Arts Holding Hands and Hearts, the organization behind the Restorative Justice Filmmaking program, has partnered with Coatesville High School and Doug Heydt, a dedicated journalism teacher at the school. These collaborators are working together to revitalize the school’s media/TV studio, WCHS, which had been closed since 2010.
Thanks to the combined efforts of AHHAH, Heydt, and Representative Dan Williams, plans are in motion to reopen the studio, not just for the Restorative Justice Filmmaking program, but for all students at Coatesville High School, allowing a new generation of young filmmakers to flourish.
The heart of the Restorative Justice Filmmaking program is its focus on teaching skills that go beyond filmmaking. The youth involved also explore mindfulness practices for mental well-being, giving them essential tools for personal growth. Their hard work will culminate in a documentary titled Invisible No More, The film will tell powerful stories about youth impacted by the juvenile justice system, bringing awareness to issues that are often overlooked.
The initiative has been made possible thanks to generous support from the Foxwynd Foundation, PECO Powering the Arts, the Independence Public Media Foundation, and Dianne Larson. These funders are helping to ensure that the program continues to grow and offer youth from Chester County Juvenile Probation the chance to build skills and express themselves in ways that are both meaningful and impactful.
Stay tuned as the project unfolds, and as the students of Coatesville High School and beyond take the reins of a program designed to empower and uplift. The doors are opening to new possibilities, and it’s clear this project is one to watch.
