Malcolm Jenkins' Criminal Justice Season

In May, I visited the Jubilee School, located on Chester Avenue in West Philly, to learn about the students’ role in social activism. They were interested in my ride-alongs with the Philadelphia police, the meetings I’ve had with legislators on Capitol Hill, and the work I’ve been a part of that is going into improving our criminal justice system.

Jubilee relies on donor support, and the majority of children attend on scholarship. Offering classes from kindergarten to sixth grade, the school looks more like a house, and the warmth that enveloped me from the moment I engaged with the children will remain with me for life.

As I went from classroom to classroom,  the students shared their artwork and poetry, and asked very intelligent questions about our criminal justice system and how they could influence it themselves. (Everyone needs to vote! Meet your local representatives!). It was truly inspiring to see them embrace human rights and equality, as well as seek to take action.  Their poetry campaign against police brutality was smart and thoughtful, and yet the students also recognized that the police are our protectors. Please take a moment to read the Declaration of Principles written by the school’s fifth and sixth graders.

Together, we talked about how justice can include improving our policing and training, while also building trust between police and community.

Led by principal and founder Karen Falcon for 40 years, Jubilee students have been active in human rights issues. In 2016, the students commemorated the 1985 MOVE bombing on Osage Avenue by bringing flowers and reading poetry they had written.  After they discovered that there wasn’t a historical marker, the students formally applied and continued to work and fundraise to make it happen. In June, they held a ceremony and celebrated its completion. It’s really special that they honored Philadelphia in that way.

The students have also organized marches, such as the one they held on June 6th in the courtyard of City Hall as part of their campaign, “Songs of the Children: A March for Student Visions of Hope for Social Justice, Freedom, Equality and Peace.” Students marched down Chestnut Street to the People’s Plaza in front of Independence Hall where they expressed their vision through music, poetry, dance and signs. I’m very proud of these children—and their teachers—for expressing their support for social justice and equal rights in such peaceful demonstrations.

Jubilee students are designing the cleats that I will be wearing in honor of social justice during our week 13 game against the Seahawks.  If you’re as inspired as I am by these students, make a donation.

According to its mission, Jubilee provides “an environment in which children build upon their wealth of creative, intellectual, social and physical resources…By integrating scholarship, social activism, and the celebration of their heritage, students gain the power of their individual and collective voices to affect change in their local and global communities.” Jubilee is committed to providing a private school education which is affordable to all, regardless of income.  

The school is currently in need of donor support to stay afloat financially. This holiday season, I hope you will consider making a donation that invests in the futures of these children. For a limited time, if you make a donation of $25 or more, you’ll receive 10 note cards featuring art work made by Jubilee students. The students are designing the cleats that I will be wearing in honor of social justice during week 13 against the Seahawks. I hope you’re as inspired as I am by these students and make a donation here.

Meanwhile, this week, we take on Chicago on the field, and in our criminal justice comparison.