Deep Center Incorporated

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DEEP CENTER'S INTERMEDIATE PROGRAM, BLOCK BY BLOCK, SERVED 54 PUBLIC SCHOOL YOUTH FROM 14 HIGH SCHOOLS WITH YEAR-LONG CREATIVE WRITING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS. YOUTH RESEARCHED AND INTERVIEWED MEMBERS OF THE SAVANNAH COMMUNITY WITH A FOCUS ON ISSUES RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND CREATED ART INFLUENCED BY THEIR EXPLORATION. THE PROGRAM YEAR CULMINATED WITH THE PUBLICATION OF AN ANTHOLOGY OF YOUTH WRITING AND A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, FEATURING SPOKEN WORD, DANCE,AND VISUAL ART CREATED BY YOUTH PARTICIPANTS.

DEEP CENTER'S INTRODUCTORY CREATIVE WRITING LITERACY PROGRAM SERVED 282 YOUTH WITH WORKSHOPS HELD VIRTUALLY WITH STUDENTS FROM 17 PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND 3 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. IN 2021, 28 SKILLED ADULT VOLUNTEER WRITERS MENTORED YOUTH AND ALLOWED THEM THE CHANCE TO WRITE, REVISE, ILLUSTRATE AND PUBLISH THEIR WRITING IN 3 PRINT ANTHOLOGIES AND A VIRTUAL ZINE-STYLE COLLECTION. THEIR WORK WAS LAUNCHED VIRTUALLY WITH A VIDEO FEATURING YOUTH READING THEIR BEST WORK.

DEEP CENTER'S HEALING SCHOOLS PROGRAM WORKED IN PARTNER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT TO BUILD SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TOWARD THE GOAL SHIFTING SCHOOL CULTURE TOWARD MORE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND POLICIES FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2021 DEEP LAUNCHED THE DEEP WRITING PROJECT, WITH 10 LOCAL TEACHERS, AS THE FIRST NATIONAL WRITING PROJECT (NWP) SITE BASED IN A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. THE MISSION OF NWP IS TO FOCUS ON KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE, AND LEADERSHIP OF OUR NATION'S EDUCATORS ON A SUSTAINED EFFORT TO IMPROVE WRITING AND LEARNING FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMMING DEEP CENTER HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH, ENGAGED IN VARIOUS SESSIONS TO IMPACT POLICY ON FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS REGARDING JUVENILE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. FAMILIES WERE OFFERED RESOURCES TO AID THEIR CHILDREN IN THIS UNDERTAKING AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.