About Our Campaign
At-risk youth do not tend see themselves as vital members of their larger community. They do not understand their role and potential for positive impact.
There are many at-risk youth who never become involved with the discipline or justice system, yet never feel embraced by the community. Youth who have been abused, do not have the social skills, or do not have the advantages of their peers.
Many at risk youth have been told what they can't do but are never given replacement skills to engage in problem solving, expression, and community involvement.
Service-Learning integrates meaningful community service with research, learning, and reflection to teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.
Why Art? Why Service Learning?
Art provides not only a way to express ones self but also explores problem solving and creativity.
180 Youth Art Corp: Art Based Service Learning provides the opportunity for youth to identify a social justice issue/community problem important to them. They work with an artist and a service learning leader to research the problem and determine a art based
project to solve, bring awareness, raise money, or educate others. Reflection, research, and problem solving are an integral part of the experience as is social reform. There is a celebration at the end of the project.
180 Turn Around
The 180 turn around is for both the youth and the community. Youth have a reason to become a active member of their community and the community benefits from the service learning project.
Inspiration
The project that inspired 180 Youth Art Corp's existence involved 11 youth on the autism spectrum. I was explaining what it meant to be a community member. They just could not envision themselves in the role of citizen nor did they want to. These wonderful
young adults were at-risk of becoming isolated from their peers now and post high school. We embarked on an art based service learning project. They chose theft as their community problem and created an educational video, brochures, and coloring books to educate
8th graders about the dangers of theft at high school. They could not wait for the next chance to be a citizen.
Outcomes
Outcomes benefit both community and at-risk youth. Youth make positive connections that encourages them to participate in community with civic responsibility. The youth gain problem solving skills, leadership skills, and find an alternative way to express themselves.
Which Youth Will We Work With?
180 Youth Art Corp provides art based service learning to any youth at-risk of being isolated from community, any youth at-risk of harming the community, and any youth who has been let down by the community.
