Are You Interested in the Integration of the Arts to Encourage & Develop Street-Involved and Homeless Youth?
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Intro / SKETCH - Working Arts for Street Involved and Homeless Youth
For those of you interested in the integration of the arts to encourage and develop street-involved and homeless youth, etc., here is a model begun by Phyllis Novak, involved in the arts for a long time, and passionate about Jesus' heart for the homeless, etc.
OMNI 10s show PRIMARY FOCUS just aired a show called A PLACE CALLED SKETCH
(takes place in Ontario) about this ministry to the marginalized and videos
are available through the PRIMARY FOCUS web site.
If you, your church or a group of people you know in your region or anywhere
in the Lower Mainland share similar vision and would like to connect with
others in the city that share similar vision, please let me know and perhaps
we can begin to connect and network together and see what's already happening,
and how we may be able to potentially move forward from there as the Holy
Spirit leads.
If enough people are interested, I'm thinking of the possibility of contacting
Phyllis to see whether she would consider coming here to share more about
their ministry in Ontario with us and give us opportunity to interact with
her about that. I'm sure there are many things we could glean from her that
the Holy Spirit may use to help lead us forward in similar directions in His
ways and timing as He brings together people who share similar heart/vision…whether
minimal or major involvement.
I will look forward to hearing from you if you're interested in this type
of ministry developing in the Lower Mainland. GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
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SKETCH - Working Arts for Street Involved
and Homeless Youth
From: http://www.sketch.ca/why/history.html
Homelessness and Poverty require innovative response.
Every person carries stories, perspectives and abilities that can effect
personal and social change.
All people are creative and need the chance to tell or retell stories in whatever
way we want to tell or retell them. We are all a part of making history regardless
of what our life situations indicate.
Street involved and homeless youth seek alternatives to traditional forms
of education, therapy and skill building. The arts allow youth to determine
their own individual pace of change.
It's easier to make decisions when your imagination is awake. Working in the
arts increases self-esteem, strengthens resilience and invigorates a desire
to learn more.
The arts offer neutral and accessible territory that breaks down barriers
and gets us to work together. A sense of voice in community elicits civic
participation and reduces isolation.
We celebrate the creativity, resilience and diversity of youth who live homeless
and see them as key contributors to culture and society.
We are concerned with the increasing number of youth in Canada who live on
the streets and are at risk of never reaching their full potential. Some may
never connect with community, never experience the joy of creating and perhaps
never realize that they have options beyond life on the streets.
Vision
To enhance the quality of life of young people who are street-involved,
homeless or at risk of being homeless, by offering creative tools, safe space
to express and create and opportunities to creatively engage in community
life.
Mission Statement
Sketch exists to foster creativity, self-discovery, and personal empowerment
for youth who are street-involved and homeless, in an atmosphere of safety,
freedom and acceptance.
Through engagement in the arts youth:
o are involved in creative self-expression
o celebrate one another's creativity
o build their self-esteem and self-awareness
o can become aware of healthy lifestyle choices
o can enhance their job readiness and life skills
o can participate in the life of their community
o can develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills
o can explore future options beyond the street
Create opportunities for street involved and homeless people ages 15-29, to
engage in the arts in a cross-discipline studio environment or in the community.
Offerings include:
o space for self-expression and skill-building through self-directed time
in studio or instructional workshops
o art making out in the community
o exhibition and sale of artwork
o connections to mentorship and apprenticeships in the arts industry
o support for education or a career in the arts
o jobs for participating youth facilitating workshops and programs
SKETCH is…
o space to explore and express opinions and ideas through art making
o a way to regain privacy or to feel some relief from the pressures of street
life
o a place to play
o NOT just for youth who are or want to be artists
o a place of welcome!
Email: info@sketch.ca
Great Commission Worship & Arts Center