2015 : Youth Reception Center

Mercy First was asked by New York City's Administration of Children's Services to start a new program to help youth entering foster care. The Youth Reception Center, called the Virginia Residence, is a 12-bed home for youth ages 14-20, offering temporary housing while a more permanent home is found. The goal is to reduce the number of different placements youth go through in foster care.

This is where Junket comes into the picture ...

In May 2015, Mercy First asked Junket to pick artwork for the new center. Since the 26 Boroughs of Brooklyn project, they had been impressed by the talent and wanted to offer more support. They believed that artwork created by other foster youth would inspire those in the program. Junket had full control over the selection, size, shape, and placement of each piece. Ultimately, the walls were adorned with 26B art and uplifting messages from the Junket team to encourage everyone who visited.

In November, we visited to see the art and meet the youth and staff. It was wonderful to see Brooklyn's history displayed as art and inspiring to witness the positive reactions from those at the home. A highlight was meeting the youth and introducing them to Junket. We look forward to seeing some of them soon!

Check out the gallery to see the art at the Virginia House!