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Success Stories
During the 2008-09 program year, Free Arts helped more than 1,300 children to release anxiety, build confidence and empower themselves with inner resiliency. This philosophy is what drives the Free Arts NYC mission, and we see incalculable positive effects on children through our arts and mentorship programs.
We are happy to share several examples of how children grew in positive ways this year.
Age 12, Grew Self-Belief
When we first met Ricky, his family was living in a safe housing program. They had fled their Bronx neighborhood after Ricky's father was shot in the face and leg while holding the door for a stranger in their housing project. Fortunately, his dad survived this violent crime but Ricky was left unhinged. He became notably quieter and more withdrawn, symptoms his mother was sure had manifest from overexposure to violence and other countless poverty-related stressors.
After 5 years in our Weekly Mentor Program, Ricky's future appears much brighter. He has developed ways to self-express and build self-confidence through our diverse arts programs. Ricky has also benefited greatly from the invaluable mentoring relationships which have provided him with constant support and encouragement. This summer, Free Arts NYC helped Ricky to receive a scholarship to arts camp. He presently continues to develop his portfolio in the hopes of attending a specialized arts high school!
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Age 6, Gained Self-Expression
When Gerald first started Free Arts, the mentors had no idea he was autistic. He had a difficult time sitting still--often, he would throw temper-tantrums when things would not go his way. These tantrums were extremely disruptive to other children, as he would often run around the room, knock over pencils, and sometimes even damage another children's artwork.
As the program progressed, and the projects got more multifaceted, he seemed to focus more. He began expressing his ideas and opinions through his art as opposed to through his tantrums. Art helped him focus and express himself in a calmer, less disruptive way. While only six, his mentors are convinced that these changes are lasting.
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Age 7, Learned to Control His Frustration
While working with Darian, a 7-year-old who lived in a housing project, it became clear early on that he was carrying more anger and frustration inside of him than most of his peers. In week three of the Weekly Mentor Program's "Art of Play" curriculum he tried to provoke a fight with other children when a mentor stepped in. He led Darian to a corner, and showed him how to convert his feelings into something positive, and work his anger out in the pages of his art journal.
A few weeks later, while working on the "Invented Instruments" project, he recognized Darian's frustration mounting. Before the mentor could intervene, Darian stood up and politely excused himself from the table. All the mentors watched, as he pulled his art journal out of the pile, opened it up to a blank page and began to draw on his own.
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Age 13, Gained Trust of Peers and Adults
Sonya didn't have any friends when she started Free Arts. She had successfully alienated herself from all of her peers by constantly teasing them, and disrupting when a facilitator tried to explain a project. After some time, it was obvious she was bored with herself, and found herself wanting to be friends with both the mentors and her peers. Still though, she would taunt and interrupt the same as always.
One day, a mentor caught her cooperating with a student and even praising their work. The mentor applauded Sonya for her positive interaction--she then told Sonya she believed in her. Sonya's face lit up. As time went on, she began teasing less and less and sure enough, by the end of the program she was sitting with the very group of girls she used to tease.
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Age 8, Grew Independence
Harold spoke very little English when he started Free Arts. He was quiet, and because sometimes it was difficult for him to understand instructions—his project would end up looking differently then his peers. This frustrated him. One day, he grew very irritated when his project looked completely different than the student sitting to his left. Harold put his materials down, and seemed to give up. A mentor walked over and translated Free Arts' motto "There are no mistakes in art," for him. Harold taped it inside of his art journal.
Within the next few weeks, Harold looked over his shoulder less and less at the work his peers created, instead opening the cover of his journal and reciting the motto to himself. By the end of the program Harold would jump right into every project and seemed proud that his project was different and stood out.
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Age 7, Developed Confidence
On a Tuesday evening in the Bronx, at a substance-abuse treatment agency for families who experienced homelessness, ten families gather in the basement to create art in the Parents and Children Together with Art (PACT) program. As each family tackles the Family Flower Pot project, one is having trouble. As usual, Melanie is telling her 7 year old son Alex what to do and how to create his part of the project. Before the mentors can intervene, Alex exclaims "Bacon!"
This is the first time Alex uses the special word to gently remind his mom of the group agreements, including being respectful and supportive of each other's art. There is a pause. Alex looked a little afraid. But then his mom laughs, and Alex smiles. It is a very positive moment for the family.
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| * Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those served by Free Arts NYC. |
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