Thursday, September 12, 2013
THE PEACE DRUM PROJECT
"I've learned how to express myself more openly with others...and without fear." JR, 2013 Graduate
"I've learned a lot over the past three years. I know that for a fact. I've learned a lot about myself as an artist and as a human being. I've gained a lot of new friends that I know I can trust. That's definitely one really good thing about the Peace Drum. The environment is completely different from anything else. Working with the elders you learn so much from their stories JD, 2013 Graduate
"The project has really helped me to find my strengths through Art. I want to come back and be an intern when I'm in college!" Nelly, 2013 Graduate
Dear Friends,
These are the voices of some of the young people who have recently graduated from CAI's Peace Drum Project - our after-school youth leadership initiative that helps high-risk Boston teens transform their lives by developing critical life skills through immersion in the Arts and community service. The project nurtures positive peer relationships and helps the teens build a network of supportive, caring friends in a family-like atmosphere where they can grow and learn together. At the same time, the teens work with local elders in ongoing community service activities that engage them in interviewing and listening to the elder's stories, teaches them living history, and helps them develop patience and compassion. Through this blend of Arts, team building, and community service, the teens learn to express themselves in constructive and meaningful ways to others.
What makes this program particularly unique in Boston is the way it builds a bond between teenagers and elders. One young man interviewed his elder partner several times to complete her interviews. Her disability made it difficult for her to speak, but she was both determined and enthusiastic about telling her story. So, instead of seeing this as an obstacle, he used the opportunity to show that he was capable of both patience and kindness, and we learned a lot from both of them.
"It was like people didn't give her a chance to talk. But if you really listened to her and paid attention, you got to understand her. It's not that hard. She could talk, she could communicate, its just that people don't give it the time and effort to sit there and listen and give her that chance to speak." JD, 2013 graduate
Similarly, this insight from elder Shirley Thomas shows that the elders learn just as much as the teens do:
"At first when I heard about the project, I was most interested in having a drum about my family. Then, when the teens started interviewing me, I was hesitant to answer all of their questions. There were a lot of things I hadn't thought about in a long time, and they wanted to know everything. But, they made me feel so comfortable that I even told them some things I never told my family! I loved meeting and talking with the young people, and I take really good care of my drum. I love it!"
These voices illustrate how powerful and authentic these relationships can be in creating connections that surpass barriers and generational differences. And, it is vital to maintain these strong relationships between teens and elders that give us a glimpse into how both groups can be truly powerful allies for each other in the community.
In Boston, most public high schools don't offer the kind of intimate group experiences that high-risk teens need to succeed. Many of our teen participants have considered dropping out of school more than once due to feelings of failure or isolation. The Peace Drum Project builds a sense of trust and intimacy that counters a somewhat impersonal in-school experience, and allows the teens to feel safe being themselves and exploring the Arts with support from peers, elders, and project staff. Their work with the elders shows them first-hand how others have overcome tremendous obstacles and have gone on to have happy, productive lives. This combination of intimacy, trust, and positive risk taking through the Arts encourages confidence and resilience, and helps the teens gain greater self-esteem and begin to have higher expectations for themselves.
" I want to grow as a person and be accepted as myself. I feel as though this project is doing that for me. I didn't believe that I would find such great friends" Laura, Current Participant
Another exceptional aspect of the Peace Drum Project is our thirty-week curriculum that has proven successful over the last 14 years. Using this framework we incorporate new themes each year to personalize the activities for participating youth. Our current theme is HOME, or what the concept of HOME means to each of the participants. This idea grew out conversations last year when one of the teens experienced an apartment fire that caused her family to split up. She and other family members had to move around among relatives and friends for half of the year. Many of our teens grow up in stressful living environments and in some cases have been homeless. So this year, we will probe deeper into that inner HOME within each youth, using imagery and words to uncover what makes them feel secure. And we will build aspirations and dream homes in books, and poems, stories, drums, and drama. In the words of Rafael, a current participant:
"This is my third year in the project, and I signed up again is so I can gain more knowledge of my artistic life. I found out that I am a creative person and I feel like this program is my second home! I also like that I'm learning to communicate better with other teens and the elders. It's like learning public speaking in a way."
Please join us in our effort to continue and expand The Peace Drum Project, and help us continue to build an enriching home-away-from-home for these young people from some of Boston's most disadvantaged neighborhoods. With your help, the project can help them gain the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills they need to make their future dreams a reality. They want a pathway to higher education or job training so they can secure a stable future. Your support for this program - your contribution in any amount - is truly a gift that can strengthen their supports and make these things possible.
Thank you so much for your support of The Peace Drum Project.
Wishes for Peace,
Susan E Porter, Director
Prema Bangera, Co-Director
PS. According to the recent Cohort Group Report on the Boston Public Schools high school graduation rates, teens in our demographic group graduate only 55-60% of the time, while the graduation rate for teens in The Peace Drum Project for the past 5 years has been 99%. Many of the teens remain in the project for 3 or 4 years, and we work hard to help them stay in school and graduate. A survey of past participants confirms that 51 teens have graduated from high school, 29 are now enrolled in college or community college, 16 have already graduated from college, and two have received Master's degrees.
Donate Button
Yes, I want to make a tax-deductible contribution to support The Peace Drum Project!
Patron: $500 ❑ Sponsor: $250 ❑ Friend: $100 ❑ $50 ❑ $25 ❑ Other: ____ ❑
Name: __________________________________
Address: _________________________________
City:________________ State_____ Zip_________
E-mail: ______________________________________
Phone:(___)__________________________
I will check with my employer to see if they will match my gift. ❑
Please make checks payable to: Cooperative Artists Institute
311 Forest Hills Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-3605 · 617-524-6378
E-mail: cai@tribal-rhythms.org Website: www.tribal-rhythms.org
"I've learned a lot over the past three years. I know that for a fact. I've learned a lot about myself as an artist and as a human being. I've gained a lot of new friends that I know I can trust. That's definitely one really good thing about the Peace Drum. The environment is completely different from anything else. Working with the elders you learn so much from their stories JD, 2013 Graduate
"The project has really helped me to find my strengths through Art. I want to come back and be an intern when I'm in college!" Nelly, 2013 Graduate
Dear Friends,
These are the voices of some of the young people who have recently graduated from CAI's Peace Drum Project - our after-school youth leadership initiative that helps high-risk Boston teens transform their lives by developing critical life skills through immersion in the Arts and community service. The project nurtures positive peer relationships and helps the teens build a network of supportive, caring friends in a family-like atmosphere where they can grow and learn together. At the same time, the teens work with local elders in ongoing community service activities that engage them in interviewing and listening to the elder's stories, teaches them living history, and helps them develop patience and compassion. Through this blend of Arts, team building, and community service, the teens learn to express themselves in constructive and meaningful ways to others.
What makes this program particularly unique in Boston is the way it builds a bond between teenagers and elders. One young man interviewed his elder partner several times to complete her interviews. Her disability made it difficult for her to speak, but she was both determined and enthusiastic about telling her story. So, instead of seeing this as an obstacle, he used the opportunity to show that he was capable of both patience and kindness, and we learned a lot from both of them.
"It was like people didn't give her a chance to talk. But if you really listened to her and paid attention, you got to understand her. It's not that hard. She could talk, she could communicate, its just that people don't give it the time and effort to sit there and listen and give her that chance to speak." JD, 2013 graduate
Similarly, this insight from elder Shirley Thomas shows that the elders learn just as much as the teens do:
"At first when I heard about the project, I was most interested in having a drum about my family. Then, when the teens started interviewing me, I was hesitant to answer all of their questions. There were a lot of things I hadn't thought about in a long time, and they wanted to know everything. But, they made me feel so comfortable that I even told them some things I never told my family! I loved meeting and talking with the young people, and I take really good care of my drum. I love it!"
These voices illustrate how powerful and authentic these relationships can be in creating connections that surpass barriers and generational differences. And, it is vital to maintain these strong relationships between teens and elders that give us a glimpse into how both groups can be truly powerful allies for each other in the community.
In Boston, most public high schools don't offer the kind of intimate group experiences that high-risk teens need to succeed. Many of our teen participants have considered dropping out of school more than once due to feelings of failure or isolation. The Peace Drum Project builds a sense of trust and intimacy that counters a somewhat impersonal in-school experience, and allows the teens to feel safe being themselves and exploring the Arts with support from peers, elders, and project staff. Their work with the elders shows them first-hand how others have overcome tremendous obstacles and have gone on to have happy, productive lives. This combination of intimacy, trust, and positive risk taking through the Arts encourages confidence and resilience, and helps the teens gain greater self-esteem and begin to have higher expectations for themselves.
" I want to grow as a person and be accepted as myself. I feel as though this project is doing that for me. I didn't believe that I would find such great friends" Laura, Current Participant
Another exceptional aspect of the Peace Drum Project is our thirty-week curriculum that has proven successful over the last 14 years. Using this framework we incorporate new themes each year to personalize the activities for participating youth. Our current theme is HOME, or what the concept of HOME means to each of the participants. This idea grew out conversations last year when one of the teens experienced an apartment fire that caused her family to split up. She and other family members had to move around among relatives and friends for half of the year. Many of our teens grow up in stressful living environments and in some cases have been homeless. So this year, we will probe deeper into that inner HOME within each youth, using imagery and words to uncover what makes them feel secure. And we will build aspirations and dream homes in books, and poems, stories, drums, and drama. In the words of Rafael, a current participant:
"This is my third year in the project, and I signed up again is so I can gain more knowledge of my artistic life. I found out that I am a creative person and I feel like this program is my second home! I also like that I'm learning to communicate better with other teens and the elders. It's like learning public speaking in a way."
Please join us in our effort to continue and expand The Peace Drum Project, and help us continue to build an enriching home-away-from-home for these young people from some of Boston's most disadvantaged neighborhoods. With your help, the project can help them gain the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills they need to make their future dreams a reality. They want a pathway to higher education or job training so they can secure a stable future. Your support for this program - your contribution in any amount - is truly a gift that can strengthen their supports and make these things possible.
Thank you so much for your support of The Peace Drum Project.
Wishes for Peace,
Susan E Porter, Director
Prema Bangera, Co-Director
PS. According to the recent Cohort Group Report on the Boston Public Schools high school graduation rates, teens in our demographic group graduate only 55-60% of the time, while the graduation rate for teens in The Peace Drum Project for the past 5 years has been 99%. Many of the teens remain in the project for 3 or 4 years, and we work hard to help them stay in school and graduate. A survey of past participants confirms that 51 teens have graduated from high school, 29 are now enrolled in college or community college, 16 have already graduated from college, and two have received Master's degrees.
Donate Button
Yes, I want to make a tax-deductible contribution to support The Peace Drum Project!
Patron: $500 ❑ Sponsor: $250 ❑ Friend: $100 ❑ $50 ❑ $25 ❑ Other: ____ ❑
Name: __________________________________
Address: _________________________________
City:________________ State_____ Zip_________
E-mail: ______________________________________
Phone:(___)__________________________
I will check with my employer to see if they will match my gift. ❑
Please make checks payable to: Cooperative Artists Institute
311 Forest Hills Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-3605 · 617-524-6378
E-mail: cai@tribal-rhythms.org Website: www.tribal-rhythms.org
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