Young People for Progress (YPP), a Montgomery County-based social justice group, will host a free screening of Beyond Walls, a collection of five short documentaries on Thursday, Dec. 19. The event will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cafritz Foundation Arts Center on Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus.
The screening, presented in collaboration with Arts on the Block and Ujima People’s Progress Party, is free and features an interactive session with youth organizers. Doors opena t 6 p.m.
The films explore themes of decarceration, which refers to reducing the number of people held in jails and prisons, and community-focused alternatives to punitive systems. The anthology includes Adamu Chan’s What These Walls Won’t Hold, a story of trust and abolitionist organizing, showcasing possibilities for resistance and radical change.
“YPP is excited to share Beyond Walls because now, more than ever, grassroots organizing is essential,” said Danielle Blocker, YPP’s executive director. “We hope the films inspire bold ideas about community investment and decriminalization.”
Founded in 2019, YPP, a Montgomery County social justice group for individuals under 35, has campaigned successfully for restorative justice initiatives in local schools and secured youth representation on the county’s Policing Advisory Commission. Beyond Walls, curated by nonprofit Working Films, seeks to inspire community-led change by showcasing the transformative power of storytelling.
