Free the Youth: Recent Episodes
Final 5 Campaign
Through a six episode series, Free the Youth explores the effect of youth prisons and other punitive systems by uplifting the experiences of those who have been directly impacted. Listeners will hear from campaign organizers and guests, who draw from their own experiences to offer insights into how these systems harm individuals and communities, as well as what we need to achieve real change. FTY strives to challenge mainstream narratives about youth justice and community safety by connecting real life experiences to systemic oppression, through the voices of those directly impacted.
In Episode 3: Policing, we explore the impact of policing on communities. Our hosts Sheriff and Malika speak with Destiny Bell, a local Chicago organizer from No Cop Academy. The No Cop Academy campaign was formed in 2017 to stop the construction of a $95 million dollar police training academy, and they continue to rally around divestment from and demilitarization of the police. Destiny and our hosts share their experiences with police in their communities and schools and how though police are supposed to “protect” they actually cause more harm.
CREDITS
Co-Hosts: Sherrif Da Greatest and Malika Anthony
Special Guests: Destiny Bell
Production Team: AnnMarie Brown, Malika Anthony, Marlee Rich, Nicole Negrete, Shayne.Khaalvin, Sherrif Da Greatest
Invocation: Excerpt from “I Hate Love” by T.W., a young person currently incarcerated in one of the Illinois youth prisons; read by Shayne.Khaalvin
Original Music: Shayne.Khaalvin; IG: @shayne.khaalvinmusic
Other Music: Kaba Studios and Aced Spade
Producer: Isa Vázquez
Consultation and Guidance: Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger of AirGo Radio
Podcast Art: Brian Herrera; IG: @brianherrera.art
Special thanks to Circles & Ciphers and the Children and Family Justice Center at the Northwestern Bluhm Legal Clinic
Transcript available at: https://www.thefinal5campaign.com/episode-3-policing
Episode 2: Community is all about restorative justice and how restorative practices are an alternative to current punitive systems. Rather than punishing people for their actions, RJ offers space for healing and meaningful accountability. We hear from RJ practitioners and young people about their experiences with restorative justice and how it manifests in their lives.
CREDITS
Co-Hosts: Sherrif Da Greatest and AnnMarie Brown
Special Guests: Andrew Hong, Karlyn Francois, Chris CCG
Production Team: AnnMarie Brown, Malika Anthony, Marlee Rich, Nicole Negrete, Shayne.Khaalvin, Sherrif Da Greatest
Invocation: Closure by Marko Stats
Original Music: Shayne.Khaalvin; IG: @shayne.khaalvinmusic
Other Music: Kaba Studios and Aced Spade
Producer: Isa Vázquez
Consultation and Guidance: Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger of AirGo Radio
Podcast Art: Brian Herrera; IG: @brianherrera.art
Special thanks to Circles & Ciphers and the Children and Family Justice Center at the Northwestern Bluhm Legal Clinic
Transcript available at: https://www.thefinal5campaign.com/free-the-youth/ep-2-community
Episode 0: Check-In provides an introduction to The Final 5 Campaign and Free the Youth. Learn about our campaign priorities and an overview of the podcast series.
CREDITS Co-Hosts: Sherrif Da Greatest and AnnMarie Brown
Production Team: AnnMarie Brown, Malika Anthony, Marlee Rich, Nicole Negrete, Shayne.Khaalvin, and Sherrif Da Greatest
Invocation: Collision written and read by Sherrif Da Greatest; Sherrifpolk.com
Original Music: Shayne.Khaalvin; IG: @shayne.khaalvinmusic
Other Music: Kaba Studios and Aced Spade
Producer: Ariel Mejia
Consultation and Guidance: Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger of AirGo Radio
Podcast Art: Brian Herrera; IG: @brianherrera.art
Special thanks to Circles & Ciphers and the Children & Family Justice Center at the Northwestern Bluhm Legal Clinic
Transcript available at https://www.thefinal5campaign.com/free-the-youth/ep-0-check-in
Episode 1: Home features a look at Child Protective Services (called the Department of Children and Families, or DCFS, in Illinois) and how their interventions often tear apart homes rather than providing support that would address the root causes of the family coming in contact with DCFS. We talk with individuals who have been impacted by DCFS family separation as children and as parents, as well as with young people who have been incarcerated in youth prisons to draw parallels between youth incarceration and family separation.
This episode is dedicated to Malik Alim, who was instrumental in supporting the development of FTY and the production of the first episodes.
A Tribute to Malik Alim:
Yooo what’s sup Malik - we want to dedicate this first episode to you as a tribute to show all the love and honor for you, brother. You are truly missed and we hope that the love you spread everywhere will carry through this podcast as other listeners tune in to our episodes.
With gratitude,
Sherrif and the Final 5 Team
CREDITS
Co-Hosts: Sherrif Da Greatest and AnnMarie Brown
Special Guests: Tony Lawlor (www.lawlorconsultinggroup.com), Winther Polk, Maddie Angell, Peter
Production Team: AnnMarie Brown, Malika Anthony, Marlee Rich, Nicole Negrete, Shayne.Khaalvin, Sherrif Da Greatest
Invocation: How Are The Children? Originally by Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O’Neill, adapted by Pat Hoertoerfer, and read by Alicia Brown
Original Music: Shayne.Khaalvin; IG: @shayne.khaalvinmusic
Other Music: Kaba Studios and Aced Spade
Producer: Hannah Rehak
Consultation and Guidance: Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger of AirGo Radio, Isa Vazquez
Podcast Art: Brian Herrera; IG: @brianherrera.art
Special thanks to Circles & Ciphers and the Children and Family Justice Center at the Northwestern Bluhm Legal Clinic
Transcript available at https://www.thefinal5campaign.com/free-the-youth/ep-1-home