This exciting venture celebrates a community often overlooked - until now.
We have created the FIRST Museum dedicated to the successes of formerly incarcerated individuals. The F.I.R.M. - Formerly Incarcerated Renaissance Museum is located on the grounds of, and is fueled by, the 501c3 nonprofit organization Why Not Prosper, Inc. in Germantown, PA.
The F.I.R.M pays homage to the talents of formerly incarcerated individuals, especially women, in America. Works will archive the history and resources in the presentation of artifacts and permanent and temporary exhibitions. The overall goal is to display, collect, and preserve artifacts demonstrating how ideas and thought processes are relevant to the experiences of, and the history of, incarceration and its impact on individuals now released into society.
The mission of The F.I.R.M. is to illuminate the silenced narratives and empower the voices of justice impacted women while fostering empathy, advocacy, and societal change through creativity, education, awareness, and community engagement. The museum will:
Raise Awareness: Shed light on the unique challenges, experiences, and injustices faced by incarcerated women, aiming to raise public awareness and understanding.
Foster Empowerment: Provide a platform for incarcerated women to share their stories, struggles, and triumphs, fostering empowerment and amplifying their voices.
Provide Education and Advocacy: Educate visitors about the systemic issues surrounding women in the criminal justice system, advocating for reform and social change.
Ensure Community Engagement: Engage the community through dialogue, workshops, and events, encouraging empathy, support, and solidarity for incarcerated women.
Promote Rehabilitation and Reintegration: Support initiatives that promote rehabilitation programs, reentry services, and opportunities for incarcerated women upon release, emphasizing their reintegration into society.
To kick-off the project, formerly incarcerated artists came together to paint the mural on the front of the building and others participated in a logo design contest in a working celebration of community.