PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
Fueled by a heartfelt dedication to empowering Black and Brown youth, Know Your Rights Camp was thrilled to bring our transformative mission to Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love, with its rich history of struggle and progress, resonates profoundly with our mission to inspire and mobilize communities, turning our shared dreams of justice and empowerment into a powerful reality.
The youth who joined us for our 13th Camp at the Philadelphia Convention Center left with a deep conviction in their potential to become tomorrow’s change makers. This profound belief in their power to lead is what drove criminal defense attorney Brianna Shaw to passionately educate young Philly residents about their legal rights, alongside KYRC Autopsy Initiative Legal Program Director Nicole Martin. Mike Africa Jr. shared his poignant personal journey, recounting the fight to free his parents from prison. At the same time, educators Sharif El-Mekki and Ismiael Jimenez championed the urgent need for African American history to become a national educational standard. These powerful presentations were complemented by sessions on mental health, body positivity, and using art as a tool for activism, ensuring a holistic approach to empowering the next generation. Each moment was a testament to our unwavering commitment to inspiring and equipping these young leaders with the tools and confidence to forge a brighter future.
There isn’t enough gratitude we can give our co-founders Colin & Nessa, special guest Ambassador Shabazz, the KYRC team, volunteers, and presenters at KYRC Philly: Brandan ‘BMike’ Odums and Russell Craig (Art), Sharif El-Mekki and Ismiael Jimenez (Education), Anthony Copeman (Finance), Mike Africa Jr. (History), Nicole Martin and Brianna Shaw (Legal Rights), Tasnim Sulaiman and Kyle Sol (Mental Health), Clara Pritchett (Physical Health) and Abran Maldonaldo (Technology). Taking the time for an all-day learning experience that honors the community is something we don’t take for granted.
