Leaders of the New School, Jeffrey Melo

“Leaders of the New School was conceived during a time where I was creating work in response to an outcry for justice and resolution after the George Floyd protests. In my time witnessing the protest in New York City and all around the world, I understood that the driving force for justice was coming from the younger generation…Leaders of the New School is an homage to those who are now in the forefront for change, justice, and revolution.”—Jeffrey Melo

“When the phone of justice rings, Black women—like Mamie Till-Mobley—have always been the first to answer. Black feminism introduced the framework of intersectionality, which has been integral in shaping the way we address social issues today. This piece demonstrates the growing trend of youth taking initiative to enact change and resist the willful ignorance that plagued generations before them.”—Wendo Kimori, President of the NAACP Youth Council of Lawrence