PRESS RELEASE

Build Your Own Babylon

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — February 20, 2008 — The past three weeks, the outreach team from Zeum and City Youth Now have collaborated to sponsor an art program on Unit 2 at the Juvenile Justice Center. The art program was designed to engage the youth to reflect on the city in which they live—the real and the ideal. The boys on Unit 2 worked together in small groups of three or four to brainstorm what they would and would not include in their imaginary city.

Equipped with construction paper, card board, markers, glue and clay, the youth worked together in teams to build their ideal city taking elements from each of the individual boy’s ideal city. The completed projects formed an engaging display including islands, the Golden Gate Bridge, greener neighborhoods, favorite stores, and flags representing the kids’ nationalities. The boy’s enjoyed engaging with one another and were empowered by the opportunity to rebuild their community and begin seeking positive change.

About City Youth Now:
Founded in 1950, City Youth Now provides a wide range of services and support for youth in the juvenile court system-including youth in the foster care and/or delinquency systems to promote responsible growth, dignity, and self worth. www.cityyouthnow.org

About Zeum
Zeum is a non-profit multimedia arts and technology museum with a mission to foster creativity and innovation in young people of all backgrounds, communities and learning styles. By providing hands-on experiences in four core creative processes (animation, sound and video production, live performance and visual arts), Zeum encourages youth to share their stories, build their voices, and use multimedia tools for creative self-expression. www.zeum.org

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Press Contact:
Brittany Heinrich
Executive Director
City Youth Now
brittany@cityyouthnow.org

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