Our public school system is rooted in white supremacy and institutionalized racism. This project is an opportunity for people of color to tell their stories of a time when their joy was stolen by the oppressive hand of an educational system designed to oppress. To support this project, click the pictures on the left or follow @stolenjoyproject on instagram for the most recent stories and consider donating.
Restoring Joy Film
In 2024 a group of students from The Village at Ithaca collaborated with students in the Ithaca College Park Scholar program to create the documentary Restoring Joy. This film is a continuation of Stolen Joy narratives and centers the experiences of students of color in the Ithaca City School District. Restoring Joy aims to highlight students’ voices in an effort to propose a more anti-racist, community-centered approach to education.
Restoring Joy is available for free on YouTube in an effort to make it accessible to all students, educators, and community members. The Village also offers custom curriculums and professional development workshops centered around the film. To inquire about these opportunities and other Restoring Joy resources, contact grace@villageatithaca.org.
Stolen Joy Film
Prior to the film Restoring Joy, a group of students from The Village at Ithaca created a film that reenacts stories of stolen joy. Featuring local actors, the film recounts painful experiences of feeling unwelcome, isolated, and pushed out of public school because of larger oppressive, racist systems.
Village at Ithaca 