We Rise! Children, Trauma, and Resilience
Sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, We Rise! is a testiment to the struggles and survival of children exposed to violence. This mural aims to portray the children as survivors and fighters rather than victims, paying homage to their suffering but celebrating their strength.
According to the Children's Hospital of Phildelphia, "from among the 14,000 adolescent patients who present to the CHOP Emergency Department each year, roughly 200 youth meet criteria for the Violence Intervention Program and are eligible to receive our intensive case management services."
According to Mayor Nutter's "Philadelphia's Strategic Plan to Prevent Youth Violence (2013)," "Over the past six years, 5,051 young Philadelphians ages 14 to 24 years have been shot or killed."
Violence in cities has always affected the most vulnerable and defenseless. In Philadelphia, the crime and violence commited by adults psychologically and physically hurts innocent children. This mural commemorates those who have seen and experienced too much too early, and projects a hopeful and optimistic tone for the future.
