The Buried History of Cheltenham: New Podcast and Op-Ed on the Imprint!

The Buried History of Cheltenham

Don’t miss this week’s episode of the Imprint Weekly podcast “The Buried History of Cheltenham.” Our own Marc Schindler, research professor and senior fellow at the Center for Youth Justice at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, had the opportunity to speak with John Kelly about the newly-launched Forgotten Children Initiative, which seeks to restore dignity to children who died or were killed while in state custody, then buried and forgotten. This is a must-listen episode as Marc and John dive into this heartbreaking history, and how the past informs the present as we work to transform today’s youth legal system.

The Racist Roots of Youth Justice Are Buried Deep

“The Racist Roots of Youth Justice Are Buried Deep,” is a companion op-ed article published on the Imprint co-authored by Marc and former secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Vincent Schiraldi. In it, Marc and Vincent explore their discovery of the burial sites at the present-day Cheltenham youth detention facility, the staggering racist roots of Maryland’s youth legal system, and the formation of the Forgotten Children Initiative, which seeks to restore dignity to these youth, and make us remember that every single one of them was someone’s child.

How to Get Involved

You can rewatch the Forgotten Children Initiative Launch below. Otherwise, there are a few ways to get involved!

Keep in touch. Make sure you’re signed up for the CYJ newsletter to keep informed as we build resources and develop plans. You can sign-up here.
We’ll also be updating the Forgotten Children hub on the CYJ site with updates as well as news coverage on relevant topics.
As mentioned on the webinar, we’re drafting a national map of similar forgotten burial sites. If you know of one, please email us at centerforyouthjustice@georgetown.edu.
Consider supporting the work through a tax-deductible gift. Your contributions to the Center for Youth Justice Gift Fund will enable us to conduct rigorous research, bring together families, and drive for change. You can make a gift here.
Finally, we are also hosting an in-person lunch discussion this Thursday, March 26th on the McCourt campus. If interested, please RSVP here. Seats are limited.