P.O. Box 526  |  Harleysville, PA  19438

© 2013 ARTFORJUSTICE.ORG

Our Road Map for Life Workshop©

 

An innovative, effective program that helps youth who have caused harm in their neighborhoods learn to make choices to turn away from destructive behaviors and build on strengths and abilities that will lead to success!

 

Workshop Description: Road Map for Life Workshops are a series of ten sessions that help high risk youth identify their strengths, understand the legal consequences of high risk behaviors, and learn to make choices that lead to constructive lifestyles. Based on Cognitive Theory, the Workshops combine a life skills program that targets improved social cognitive skills with an art program that personalizes and intensifies the learning. The Workshops use an innovative, narrative approach that presents the original art and statements of Charles Lawson, an offender whose experiences serve as an instructive, cautionary tale for the youth. During each session the youth identify and challenge belief systems that lead to destructive behaviors and explore choices that build on individual strengths and will lead to constructive behaviors.

 

With the support of a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, PECO, and the Mordy Family Foundation Art for Justice presented the Road Map for Life Workshops at the Montgomery County Youth Detention Center in Norristown, Pennsylvania in June, 2012. The Workshops were also supported by donations from Montgomery County businesses and individuals.

 

Workshop Evaluation: The Workshops have been presented seven times. Evaluations were completed by Art for Justice on 68 of the youth, showing that 51 of the youth scored in the high range, 16 of the youth scored above average, and 1 youth scored slightly below average.

 

Participant Quotes: Excerpts from some of the youth who have participated in the Workshops:

 

... this Workshop has been a life changing experience for me.

... get a place or art store and let more kids do the Road Map.

... keep pushing the points and talk to everybody they can.

... keep going to placements like this to reach more kids.

… do this all over the world so other kids can learn what I’ve learned.

… if I get to 21, I want to participate in the Road Map for Life Workshops.

… my choice is to learn to deal with my anger.

… I made a decision to stay away from guns.

… I am motivated to try again to make it when I go home.

 

Art for Justice is seeking resources to make it possible to present the Workshops during the summer of 2013 at the Montgomery County Youth Center in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

 

Statement of Need: High levels of violence and crime in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties are causing harm to communities and increasing levels of incarceration for youth.

 

Goal:  The goal of the Road Map for Life Workshops is to prevent violence and crime.

 

Youth Served:  Workshops are offered to youth who are adjudicated delinquent, have involvement with the Department of Human Services, a parent in prison, or live in high risk neighborhoods.