My Endersession and Girl Scout Gold Award Project involves facilitating an art therapy and creation group with developmentally disabled adolescents. I will be working with June Heinz at Abilities Family Learning Center and several of her students. I have submitted a proposal to Girl Scout Headquarters and my project has been approved. (I have pasted a portion of that proposal below.)
I have now begun working with the planning process: brainstorming activities, assembling materials, pulling from my own experience, and working on how to advertise. I will be holding a meeting with June next week to hammer out the specifics of the project and will post the updates here.
Excerpt from Council Approved Proposal:
1. Describe the issue your project will address, what you hope to achieve, and who will benefit. If your project culminates with an event, tell what it is and estimate the number of participants. If your project will benefit an organization or group, attach a letter of endorsement from them.
This project will address developmentally disabled adolescents who are often not given the means or the opportunity to express themselves due to their situations. It is my goal to bring them expressive media (art and writing) as a form of therapy to encourage them to think creatively and give them a way to express themselves. I will hold afterschool creative workshops with small groups of 3 or 4 a few times a week so that each child can get highly individualized attention and feel encouraged to pursue their artistic voices. I am qualified to facilitate their artistic growth because I have been creating art all my life and am a California Arts Scholar. I will be able to bring all that I have learned in my work to give them various ways to voice their opinions as well as introduce them to various styles of art. These creative workshops will culminate in an exhibition of the work that is produced with students’ families and friends invited to see what they have to say.
2. Discuss your reasons for selecting this project.
Based on my own experience as well as research I’ve found that creating art enhances feelings of self confidence and personal esteem-qualities that adolescents with developmental disabilities have a harder time establishing. The process of creating something new, beautiful, and meaningful promotes a feeling of achievement and inspires individuals to keep pursuing that feeling-which can ultimately better their own lives. I want to work with these kids because I want to give them that feeling and hear what they want to express. Overall, I think that by utilizing my artistic strengths and sharing them with others I can make a positive contribution to the community and inspire these kids to express themselves.
3. If your project is an event, workshop, program, etc., that has been done before by someone else, how will you modify it to make it your own?
I will not only be sharing various types of creative media with them but I will also be giving each individual and their work attention, encouragement, and personalized critique. I will also focus the students on collaborating with each other to help them build productive teamwork skills and foster friendship.
4. How will your project benefit or involve the community beyond Girl Scouting?
The project will benefit individuals with developmental disabilities because it will raise their self confidence, create feelings of achievement, foster growth of collaborative skills, and give them an outlet to express themselves (thus potentially reducing destructive feelings that could lead to depression.) It will also benefit the families and friends of these individuals because it will create a happier, healthier environment for everyone.
5. Quantify your goals, give numbers (how many volunteers will you have? What is your goal for the number of participants?)
I will have 2-3 volunteers (adults/older teenagers) and/or parents at each of the sessions to make sure everyone is encouraged and to handle any issues that may arise. Each student is responsible for the direction of their own work; the volunteers are there to be an asset to them and encourage their creativity. As said before, each session will have 3-4 students and there will be a few sessions a week with different groups of students.
6. Outline your strengths, talents, and skills that will be put into action.
I will teach the students various styles of visual art (such as collage, simple drawing, color schemes, etc) as well as various aspects of creative writing (short fiction, poetry, prose, monologues, etc) all skills that I developed through various art and writing instruction I’ve had over the years. I will utilize the most effective and enjoyable activities that I’ve experienced to make the experience meaningful for them. Because I understand the process of art making I will be able to be patient with my students and guide their own artistic journeys.
7. How will you use LEADERSHIP skills (recruiting, directing, teaching, organizing, etc.)
First off I will be very patient with the students as I understand that the nature of their situations requires a lot of energy and encouragement from me to get things done. I will create an agenda for each session and follow it through thus organizing my time effectively for the sake of the students. I will help the kids where needed, teach them new skills I have learned from my art facilitators, and ensure everyone is satisfied with the work they have created.
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