The Actors’ Gang working with justice-involved youth.

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The juvenile justice system in Los Angeles is fundamentally broken, disproportionately affecting children of color and exacerbating existing inequalities. Recognizing the success of the Prison Project, The Actors' Gang (TAG) initiated the Youth Project in 2016 to disrupt the cycle leading from youth to adult incarceration. Youth incarceration is estimated to increase the likelihood of adult incarceration by 23%. In Los Angeles, Black youth, comprising just 8% of the population, account for a staggering 36% of the incarcerated youth. This disparity underscores the systemic biases and social inequities that disproportionately impact communities of color. Many have experienced early childhood abuse and trauma, resulting in impulsive, risk-taking behavior and substance abuse, creating a cycle of recidivism that requires targeted interventions. Recently, California Arts Council has discontinued the "JumpStArts" grant, creating a substantial gap in funding for the Youth Project.

The Actors’ Gang Youth Project (TAGYP) provides theater workshops to youth in locked facilities, day camps, and court-ordered programs throughout the greater Los Angeles area. All TAG programming is delivered using the 16th-century Italian art form, Commedia dell'Arte, utilizing its “Style” and four basic emotional states (happy, sad, afraid, and angry) and the 14 archetypal characters. TAGYP employs 17 formerly incarcerated Prison Project alumni as Teaching Artists (TAs). These 8–13-week workshops include exercises and activities that enable participants to reflect on their experiences in a safe space, recognize their value and responsibility within the group and community, and heal trauma. The goal of the programming is to improve the lives of system-impacted young people—who are disproportionately poor and people of color—and positively impact their emotional health, behavior, and well-being through art. TAGYP workshops offer participants valuable tools to develop ownership and control over their emotions, helping them make different life choices. The Prison Project alumni-led support network ensures that those with lived experience lead a model for successful youth programming. TAGYP staff have witnessed justice-involved youth open up more freely with alumni TAs. It is vital to keep this programming operational.

Breaking the cycle of incarceration will have a lasting impact on future generations in Los Angeles. Children of parents who avoid incarceration are less likely to end up in the justice system themselves. Successful interventions allow participants to pursue educational and vocational training, contributing to their personal growth and long-term success. Providing participants with tools to make different life choices results in improved mental health and well-being, ultimately leading to more stable and productive lives.
Focusing on incarcerated youth helps level the playing field for marginalized communities, particularly those disproportionately affected by the system, promoting social justice and equity. Overall, effective interventions with justice-involved youth lead to healthier, safer, and more equitable communities, benefiting individuals, their families and society as a whole.

TAGYP employs a variety of methods to measure program impact, including pre- and post-surveys and scribe notes in every workshop. These tools collectively create a comprehensive picture of the program's success, effectiveness, and areas needing improvement. TAGYP focuses on participants' understanding of the material and their ability to apply new skills to recognize and express emotions, work collaboratively, and engage in nonjudgmental reflection. Post-survey results consistently show significant improvements compared to pre-survey results. For example, participants reporting that "Art helps me express my thoughts and feelings" increased from 19% to 41%, those feeling "Art helps me feel strong enough to handle difficult situations" rose from 11% to 33%, "Art helps me do better in school" jumped from 17% to 57%, and "Art helps me understand and share the feelings of others" soared from 21% to 71%.