Artistic Empowerment: Transforming At-Risk Youth Beyond the Classroom
Statistics That Support the Need
Research from the National Endowment for the Arts shows that youth who frequently participate in artistic activities are less likely to be involved in delinquent activities and more likely to achieve academically (National Endowment for the Arts, 2020).
According to a study conducted by the American Institutes for Research in 2017, kids who participate in extracurricular arts activities had a fourfold higher chance of receiving academic recognition.
Mentorship: Our Approach
Here at Krooked Crown Connects, we know that mentoring in the arts can have a profound impact on troubled adolescents. The idea that learning and development may take place anywhere inspired us to create initiatives that bring mentors into schools and communities alike.
School Environment: To supplement regular classroom instruction, we collaborate with local schools to provide extracurricular arts activities. Our goal is to encourage students to pursue their artistic interests and acquire important life skills through hosting workshops, hosting performances, and providing one-on-one mentoring.
In The Community: We acknowledge that mentoring relationships should extend beyond the confines of formal education. That's why we also contact troubled teens in non-traditional places like apartment complexes and homeless shelters. We give young people a place to feel comfortable expressing themselves and gain self-assurance by bringing the arts to these neighborhoods.
Partnering for Transformation: There is no one group that can address the myriad problems that troubled adolescents face, and we acknowledge this. That's why we're forging alliances with other groups and influential members of the community to provide mutual aid. Together, we have the power to make a greater difference and alter the course of events for these youths.
To Sum it Up
The potential of at-risk youth can be unleashed through creative arts mentorship, empowering them to create a better future for themselves and their communities. We can give these kids a fighting chance by funding community-based mentorship programs that extend beyond traditional school boundaries. Our combined efforts will have a greater impact.
Our Sources:
The National Endowment for the Arts cited this in 2020. "Youth and the Arts: An At-Risk Population." The following is the link to the document: https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/YouthAtRisk.pdf
National Center for Science and Technology (2017). "The Arts and Achievement in At-Risk Youth: Findings from Four Longitudinal Studies." This is the link: https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/Arts-At-Risk-Youth
Lifting the Weight off Their Shoulders
There are a lot of obstacles that at-risk adolescents in today's society encounter, and they might stunt their development as individuals. Feelings of pessimism and poor self-esteem can be exacerbated by factors including financial instability, problems within families, and an absence of good role models.
Mentorship in the performing and creative arts is becoming more acknowledged as an important component of traditional education for these youths so that they can succeed in school and in their communities.
The Power of Creativity in Critical Thinking
Despite the left side's association with logic, encouraging creativity on the right side of the brain improves critical thinking abilities, according to research. Creativity, whether expressed through painting, dance, or music, is a great brain exercise that helps people be more adaptable, creative, and problem solvers. This is especially helpful for at-risk kids because they often deal with difficult situations.