Project Mentor: Dr. Bill Whitney, Creative Inquiry
Continuing Fellow:
Sophie Saunders '28
2026 Impact Fellows:
Allison Caruthers '28
Madison Danquah '27
Emily Perez '28
Elisabeth (Lissie) Skrenta '29
Project Description:
Can storytelling be the way to help youth communicate with and understand each other and build leadership cohorts for the future?
The Beyond Bars project, reviving in 2027 after a few years focusing on school-based initiatives, is dedicated to spreading awareness and education about the criminal justice system as well as progressing advocacy efforts towards reform through artistic mediums of storytelling and performance. This project provides an artistic platform to expose the injustices in our “justice” system through personalized stories with the goal of increasing awareness of these injustices and inciting action and a sense of empowerment.
Beyond Bars emphasizes the use of the arts and other mediums in order to display and highlight the humanity of those affected by the system and build bridges between the “inside” and the “outside” in the Lehigh Valley. We provide insight and information on the realities of people in jail through artistic medium(s) such as theater, art, writing, etc. to people who lack in-depth knowledge of the topic. Beyond Bars should also serve as a liaison between the community and recently incarcerated people, providing information and aid that works to ensure a smooth transition, free of stigma or discrimination. Educating the public about the problems of the justice system, while giving them the tools to make an impact in their communities.
All majors are welcome to apply. Students interested in restorative justice practices, criminal and justice systems, and social justice issues would be particularly relevant members of the team.