At an East Harlem housing facility for families who have experienced domestic violence, a group of children and parents create Native American Medicine Wheels out of shells, sand, tissue paper, and more. The project is part of an eight-week "Global Families" curriculum. One parent says: "a little time together can make a difference. It was a bonding period for us!"

PACT is an eight week, theme-based art experience featuring activities designed to increase parental involvement and encourage positive forms of family communication. With a 1:2 volunteer to family ratio, program facilitators and trained volunteers provide creative arts projects that require collaboration of ideas and sustained teamwork. Working as a design team, families use the art as a vehicle to learn and enhance their own communication, collaboration, and sharing. Each session begins with an improvisational game, followed by an art experience, and ends with a sharing circle.

Want to be a PACT Volunteer?

Sample themes and projects include:

• Family Masterpieces – Collaborative art inspired by modern artists

Projects include: Marcel Duchamp: Happy Accident String Drops, Romare Bearden: Neighborhood Collage, Faith Ringgold: Family Fantasy Quilt Banner, Vincent van Gogh: Sunflower Impasto Paintings

• Global Families – Art projects inspired by cultures from around the world

Projects include: Aboriginal Dreamtime Paintings, Italian Stained Glass Ornaments, Kachina Cradle Doll Families, Mankala Board Game, Japanese Folding Screen