| "All children are our business. We cannot turn our backs on them because we don't know them personally nor judge why these children are homeless. What matters now is that we become accountable and responsive to these kids because they are a part of our future." - Jozef Dominguez |
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Arts in the Making is a series of expressive arts outreach workshops
created for homeless and at-risk youth that brings them together with
professional artists to share their passions for the visual arts, music and
movement. First implemented in Seattle, Arts in the Making was originally
designed to raise awareness about the number of homeless teens and
young adults living on the streets, but has become much more. One of the
main goals of Arts in the Making is to put Arts in the hands of kids who are
living on the street or have dropped out of school, because we know that
the expressive arts are essential foundational building blocks to greater
learning, expressive language, and critical thinking. Art is created, the
written word is given poetic form, feelings are given a voice through
musical expression, and participants are moved. What we learned
firsthand is that these teens love Art, Music, and Movement, and for the
time we are together, life is better.
The workshops provide a respite from the issues of homeless survival,
and offer opportunities for healing through creative self-expression, and a
window of opportunity to "see" clearly to the other side of street life.
created for homeless and at-risk youth that brings them together with
professional artists to share their passions for the visual arts, music and
movement. First implemented in Seattle, Arts in the Making was originally
designed to raise awareness about the number of homeless teens and
young adults living on the streets, but has become much more. One of the
main goals of Arts in the Making is to put Arts in the hands of kids who are
living on the street or have dropped out of school, because we know that
the expressive arts are essential foundational building blocks to greater
learning, expressive language, and critical thinking. Art is created, the
written word is given poetic form, feelings are given a voice through
musical expression, and participants are moved. What we learned
firsthand is that these teens love Art, Music, and Movement, and for the
time we are together, life is better.
The workshops provide a respite from the issues of homeless survival,
and offer opportunities for healing through creative self-expression, and a
window of opportunity to "see" clearly to the other side of street life.
"We have brought music and musicians right into the closest thing these kids have to a living room ... their
drop-in shelters and existing service agencies," said Michele Caskey, a volunteer with Arts in the Making.
"It has been remarkable to see how welcoming and enthusiastic the kids are and how they quite literally
come out of their shells when they have an avenue to express their Voice. It was a great pleasure to see
these kids put aside their worries and heavy loads for a while and have so much fun."
Every Arts in the Making workshop takes place within the boundaries of an existing shelter, agency, or
drop-in center, and acts as an adjunct to existing services and an existing framework that supports the
foundational needs of the teens. This existing framework of policies, procedures, and proper supervision
creates a comfortable and safe environment for the volunteer artists to interact with the at-risk youth where
all boundaries are respected. We are on their turf. The professional staff is there as a backup to support
what issues or problems may arise.
We may never know or fully understand why or how it is that kids are on the streets; however, as healthy
adults and community it is our responsibility to reach out to them. Through personal connection all lives
can change. We as caring adults and volunteers need to also look beyond the physical where these
children are concerned to see the devastating, long-term effects of their circumstances and connect to
teens, homeless and at-risk youth through our common love and interest in art, music, sound, and
movement.
With AIM initiatives active in Seattle, Albuquerque and Santa Fe since 2003 more than 100 Volunteer
artists have coordinated over 100 art, music, and movement workshops in youth agencies and elsewhere
for teens who call the street their home. AIM continues to expand to cities across the country working as
an adjunct to existing agencies that serve these children and young adults basic needs for food and
shelter.
Arts in the Making can be implemented anywhere that there are artists interested in lending a hand and
a heart to their communities at-risk youth. Through a sharing of mutually interesting activities and passions
involving visual arts, music, and movement we can help to build a bridge of transitional change and
acceptance.
Our artists passions are vibrant and varied. Workshops have included: deconstruction/reconstruction of
old clothes, making totem poles out of clay, climbing a rock wall, community rhythm/drumming, jewelry
making, glass fusing, paper mache, song writing, harmonica basics, basketball tricks, fabric collage, hip
hop yoga, transferring hand drawn images to T-shirts, making ceramic masks ... to name just a few.
drop-in shelters and existing service agencies," said Michele Caskey, a volunteer with Arts in the Making.
"It has been remarkable to see how welcoming and enthusiastic the kids are and how they quite literally
come out of their shells when they have an avenue to express their Voice. It was a great pleasure to see
these kids put aside their worries and heavy loads for a while and have so much fun."
Every Arts in the Making workshop takes place within the boundaries of an existing shelter, agency, or
drop-in center, and acts as an adjunct to existing services and an existing framework that supports the
foundational needs of the teens. This existing framework of policies, procedures, and proper supervision
creates a comfortable and safe environment for the volunteer artists to interact with the at-risk youth where
all boundaries are respected. We are on their turf. The professional staff is there as a backup to support
what issues or problems may arise.
We may never know or fully understand why or how it is that kids are on the streets; however, as healthy
adults and community it is our responsibility to reach out to them. Through personal connection all lives
can change. We as caring adults and volunteers need to also look beyond the physical where these
children are concerned to see the devastating, long-term effects of their circumstances and connect to
teens, homeless and at-risk youth through our common love and interest in art, music, sound, and
movement.
With AIM initiatives active in Seattle, Albuquerque and Santa Fe since 2003 more than 100 Volunteer
artists have coordinated over 100 art, music, and movement workshops in youth agencies and elsewhere
for teens who call the street their home. AIM continues to expand to cities across the country working as
an adjunct to existing agencies that serve these children and young adults basic needs for food and
shelter.
Arts in the Making can be implemented anywhere that there are artists interested in lending a hand and
a heart to their communities at-risk youth. Through a sharing of mutually interesting activities and passions
involving visual arts, music, and movement we can help to build a bridge of transitional change and
acceptance.
Our artists passions are vibrant and varied. Workshops have included: deconstruction/reconstruction of
old clothes, making totem poles out of clay, climbing a rock wall, community rhythm/drumming, jewelry
making, glass fusing, paper mache, song writing, harmonica basics, basketball tricks, fabric collage, hip
hop yoga, transferring hand drawn images to T-shirts, making ceramic masks ... to name just a few.
| How can you get involved and share your passion for Art, Music, or Movement with homeless and at-risk youth where you live? |
| Arts in the Making Albuquerque |
| Arts in the Making Seattle |
| Arts in the Making Santa Fe |
| Arts in the Making Las Cruces |
| Contact us for more information on Arts in the Making (click here) |
