Dick And Jane Project

USING MUSIC AS THE CATALYST, THE DICK AND JANE PROJECT INSPIRES MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO WRITE.

WE, THE CHANGE: LAUNCHED IN 2021 AS A YEAR ROUND ARTS-BASED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM IN FOUR COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS MIDDLE SCHOOLS. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS, PRODUCERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS AND VISUAL ARTISTS, WE MET WITH SMALL GROUPS OF 15 STUDENTS AT EACH SCHOOL, FOR ONE CLASS PERIOD FIVE DAYS A WEEK. TOGETHER THEY CREATED ART ACROSS MULTIPLE GENRES AND MEDIUMS, INCLUDING A PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED SONG, A MUSIC VIDEO, VISUAL ARTWORK, CREATIVE WRITING PIECES, AND SELF ESTEEM FOCUSED VOCAL AND STAGE PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTION. THESE ART PROJECTS EXAMINED NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED BY STUDENTS, WHO WERE THEN ASKED TO DEVELOP A CONCRETE ACTION PLAN TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE PROJECT, THROUGH A STUDENT-LED AND STUDENT-DEFINED SERVICE PROJECT, PARTICIPANTS DREW CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THEIR OWN LIVED EXPERIENCES AND ISSUES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

OTHER YOUTH/ ADULT PROGRAMMING: OUR YOUTH/ADULT WORKSHOPS INCORPORATE ARTS-BASED SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROCESSES TO GUIDE A SMALL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A CREATIVE PROCESS WITH SUPPORT FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND WAV STAFF TRAINED IN TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT. THE CREATIVE PROCESSES RANGE FROM SONGWRITING, TO VISUAL ARTS, TO CREATIVE WRITING, TO ORAL HISTORIES, TO VOCAL/ DANCE PERFORMANCE. IN 2022 WE WORKED WITH ADULT GROUPS AT THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS: GOODWILL, CATCH COURT, OHIO REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN, OHIO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NETWORK, PATHWAYS TO HEARTLAND, CORNERSTONE OF HOPE, COLUMBUS RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT, KALEIDOSCOPE AND COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS.