There are seminal events and times in the lives of individuals and
agencies
that propel them into years of new growth and development.
Now is that
moment in time for ArtSafe, and for me as its director and
as a public/activist
artist. At ArtSafe, thanks to the support of the
US Department of Justice
and Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services,
we are preparing to introduce
our new programs and curricular materials
to a national audience of arts
educators, and those working in
corrections and with troubled youth.
Success builds upon itself, and last year's 11th Anniversary
Celebration,
The Power of Art, was just that and more. ArtSafe
presented the first National
Arts Empowerment Award to
Dr. Deborah Prothrow Stith, mentor and friend to
the Foundation,
and a national leader in youth violence prevention. Our Regional
Arts Empowerment Award was given to Dr. Leon Troy in recognition of his
career-long commitment to children and families.
First also last year were live and silent auctions of the art created by professional artists Jim Arter, Christopher Reis, Marcia Wasserman and me, as well as young people in our programs including alumi Sheena Kadi and Heidi McLean.
Within the coming month ArtSafe will debut the nation's first arts-based curriculum for at risk, adjudicated, and incarcerated youth. Funded by a grant from the US Department of Justice, Life Empowering ArtSafe Projects (LEAP) draws on the talents of our artists like Suanne Goings, Freda Abbott Ayodele, Lauren Emond, Aaron Thomas, Is Said and Erica Thomas, as well as Self Determination Theory and our six years of successful programs with young people incarcerated in Ohio's adult and youth prisons. Nationally LEAP will enable agencies to aid young people, grades 8—12, in healing from the effects of violence as well as develop critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration skills.
ArtSafe continues to be a leader in innovative arts-based programming for young people. With the newly published Facilitator's Guide, InSide Looking Out becomes a powerful arts and language arts education tool for school and youth program teachers Following later this year will be the Facilitator's Guide for the foundation's award winning book A Caged Bird.
I invite you to check in at www.artsafe.org, watch as we continue grow and make a difference in the lives of children and young adults. And then join in our work—your tax deductible contribution to ArtSafe or your volunteer time make our programs possible.
On a personal note: I've wondered for nearly a decade when the convergence of my work, as social activist, working with incarcerated youth would merge with my public art. It is now emerging in a new series of multimedia works called Intersected Lives. I'm jazzed by this new body of small and large scale 3D art that unites my life's work as sculptor and public artist with my passion for using the arts as a vehicle to help incarcerated youth. My vision is to expand our social and cultural dialog about these young lives caught up in our social injustice—by creating a resonant and compelling arts experience for audiences in traditional art and alternative settings.
