Our Youth, Our Future: A Juneteenth Reflection on Justice

“How is it possible for a person under 18 years of age to appear in court, be tried as an adult for a crime, when that same child isn’t able to sign their own school permission slip, can’t vote, can’t join the military, and can’t buy alcohol? Yet, a child can be charged with a crime and instantaneously be treated as an adult.” – King Moosa, Panelist

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we are reminded that freedom is not just a historical milestone but an ongoing pursuit.

On May 8, 2025, Illinois Humanities proudly hosted the Envisioning Justice Statewide Convening: Our Youth, Our Future. A gathering of artists, humanists, organizers, and community members came together to reimagine what the future of justice will look like in Illinois — through conversation, reflection, and shared experience.

The event surfaced important questions like the one posed by panelist and grantee partner King Moosa’s that ask us to reinterrogate core concepts our society is built around. Questions like: What does justice mean? Who gets to define that meaning — and who has historically been excluded from those conversations? What do the systems in place look like when they fail our youth? And most importantly, what would it take to build a system rooted in care and healing, not punishment and control?

To say that the energy in the room on May 8th was high is an understatement. Members of the community traveled from all over the state to take part in panel discussions, Q&As, and workshops — all focused on the theme of youth.

The event was held at the South Shore Cultural Center — a space that once operated as the whites-only South Shore Country Club. In the 1960s, as neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore became more racially integrated, the club chose to dissolve rather than open its doors to a more diverse community. The South Shore Country Club’s assets were liquidated in 1975 and the building was sold to the Chicago Park District, who has since restored and maintained it as the South Shore Cultural Center.

The decision to hold the convening at the South Shore Cultural Center was not a coincidence. It was a powerful reminder that re-envisioning our justice system will always require that we confront our history head-on, no matter how challenging or difficult that may be. It also reminds us that transformation is possible.

Our Youth, Our Future was more than just a convening — it offered a glimpse into an Illinois where our justice system is shaped by community, rooted in experience, and focused on healing. Whether it was music from Pressure Baby R guiding us through a thoughtful reflection, or breakout sessions inviting attendees to engage through art, writing, dialogue, and collective visioning, these types of gatherings are an important part of how we make that vision a reality.

Illinois Humanities is grateful to work alongside a community dedicated to justice. This is why we are proud to support individuals and organizations across the state through our Envisioning Justice Grants.

These project-based grants fund educators, organizers, artists, and collectives who use the arts and humanities to deepen public understanding of mass incarceration and its impact on communities in Illinois. From podcasts and public performances to prison education programs and community dialogues, these projects help build more affirming, engaged, and empowered communities. Applications are open through June 30, 2025, at 5:00 PM.

As we mark Juneteenth — a day that honors the long and ongoing journey toward Black freedom in our country — gathering in a space once defined by exclusion can serve as an act of resistance, reminding us that justice is not only envisioned, but actively built, together, and in community.