Background

According to a study conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services, 46 percent of runaway and homeless youth report being physically abused; 38 percent report being emotionally abused, and 17 percent report being forced into unwanted sexual activity by a family or household member.

African-American girls constitute 14 percent of the general population nationally but 33.2 percent of girls detained and committed. Of those detained, approximately 81% have experienced abuse by a family member in their household.

40% of the victims of sex trafficking are African American.

And while LGBT youth comprise only 3-5% of the general population, they represent 13% of the juvenile justice population.

At this critical moment in criminal/juvenile justice reform, girls and queer youth of color are largely being left out of the broader public conversation - even as they have the fastest rising rates of incarceration.  Grrrl Justice is a short narrative film exploring their pathways into the juvenile justice system thru gender and sexuality, and the impact that story and art can have in their healing. The film is written and directed by artist/activist, Shontina Vernon, and produced by Kirby Grey through the Visionary Justice StoryLab with additional support from the Right of Return Fellowship. This campaign will support the development of a trauma based educational toolkit to support a series of screenings and community conversations around the US. #GrrrlJustice 

Grrrl Justice Film is unique in that it sits at the intersection of journalism and narrative filmmaking, often using statistics to tell the story of its protagonists to greater depth. It also supports the ways that art can be used as a tool for both healing and liberation in community based, youth led arts spaces. The film takes an intersectional approach to addressing these challenges. 

The production of Grrrl Justice Film was fully funded through foundation and grant support. In February of 2018, a cast of sixteen and crew of nine shot the film in the local Seattle area. What we are asking for now, is the support of our community in moving this project out into the world. The funds from this campaign will allow us to:

For your support we've got some cool perks -Grrrl Justice buttons, admission to an early nationwide digital screening, and shout outs on our official website and press materials!

We are in a critical moment where radical efforts towards prison/criminal justice reform are taking root across the nation.  Grrrl Justice seeks to amplify the very stories of women and girls of color who are impacted in order to center intersectionality as we shift policies and create solutions.

We understand not everyone is able to contribute, but word of mouth is as good as gold as far as we are concerned. 

To read more about the Visionary Justice StoryLab, visit www.visionaryjusticestorylab.org.
To request interviews/screenings/workshops of Grrrl Justice, visit www.grrrljusticefilm.com.