The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence
“Tending Soul” Harry Grammer, Founder of New Earth
Harry Grammer is a poet/ musician and founder of New Earth. As the Founder and Director of Programs, Harry brings his leadership and visionary spirit, along with an extensive background in teaching poetry and self-expression to incarcerated and at-risk youth. Since the program’s inception in 2002, he has been an integral part of growing the organization.
For ten years, Harry has been the head instructor for all New Earth programming offered to over 2,500 incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth per year in Los Angeles County. In addition to developing and teaching core curriculum, and designing new programs, Harry also trains and manages New Earth teaching staff. He has a stellar track record—with an 83% success rate in keeping the kids he works with out of the juvenile probation system once they are released. Harry was the winner of the Los Angeles Social Venture Partner’s 2013 Fast Pitch Competition as well as the recipient of the 2012 Josephine “Scout” Fuller Award from Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR). Harry is currently a Ph.D. student at Pacifica Graduate Institute studying Depth Psychology with an emphasis in Community Psychology, Liberation Psychology, and Eco-Psychology.
About New Earth –
New Earth provides mentor-based arts, educational, and vocational programs that empower juvenile justice system involved youth ages 13-22 to transform their lives, move toward positive, healthier life choices, and realize their full potential as contributing members of our community. New Earth is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization. In the summer of 2015 New Earth opened the first youth center in Los Angeles dedicated to youth leaving juvenile detention facilities. The New Earth Arts and Leadership center houses innovative job programs, a charter high school, and arts programs including a recording studio.
Reflecting on his dedication to New Earth, Grammer explains, “The kids make it worthwhile. What makes me up in the morning and motivates me to get out of my bed is to work with these young people that I get to work with. Every day I am floored by the potential that they carry and by the wonder in their eyes. They’re bright-eyed, bushy-tailed kids who are soaking up it all up and asking for more.”
“The desire to look at the issues in my work from a depth psychological and phenomenological perspective brought me to Pacifica,” says Grammer. “Pacifica has been a launch pad for my work. Although I was deep into my work prior to Pacifica, the studies and relationships I made have redesigned my approach. Mary Watkins has been a tremendous mentor for New Earth and for me. I am eternally thankful for her support. I’m looking forward to receiving my doctorate degree, and feel that it will help move this work in ways not possible in the past.”
More about The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence:
This program underscores Pacifica Graduate Institute’s commitment to sustaining intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and tending the soul of the world. Through this award, Pacifica Graduate Institute proclaims its pride in the accomplishment s and personal dedication of its alumni. The award provides worldwide recognition for service to our communities.
This award is given in recognition of exemplary work in service to the world, as well as commitment and dedication to furthering the Institute’s mission. The Chancellor’s Award of Excellence was created to encourage outstanding accomplishment in what Pacifica Graduate Institute Alumni do, and recognizes individuals for exceptional service to their communities.
