Unleashing Creativity: Using the Arts to Empower Change

Format

Workshop

First Presenter's Institution

Cobb County School District / Paint Love

Second Presenter's Institution

Paint Love

Third Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fourth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fifth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Strand #1

Heart: Social & Emotional Skills

Strand #2

Home: Family & Community Engagement

Relevance

When done in a nurturing environment, art can be used to explore the internal- our emotions and ideas - and harnessing those for expression. Through guided questions and art prompts, young people can be taught social-emotional learning. Collaborative pieces and community-oriented art enhances social connection and identity as a collective.

Brief Program Description

In Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van Der Kolk reminds us that trauma "rob(s)" people "of the imagination they need to create something better." Millions of young people in the US have experienced trauma and live in under-resourced communities. The arts provide a new language and space for self-exploration and social-connection. Art is essential for young people-- for re-imagining a greater future. This session features hands-on opportunities for creative play using Paint Love's Trauma-Informed Art Model.

Summary

We all have this innate desire to create. In some way, we are all creators. For youth who are at-risk and have experienced trauma or who live in under-resourced communities, the opportunity to create may be limited. The arts—whether music or dance, painting or acting—empower young people. It gives them opportunity to explore new realities, reshape narratives, and engage in creative play. It allows kids the ability to see themselves as unique but also a part of a greater community and whole.

But expression requires a safe, support environment – especially for young people whose “lower brains” are more active. Paint Love, through work with Atlanta-agencies, like Wellspring Living, Kate’s Club, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Covenant House, and New American Pathways, along with Title-1 Schools, developed a Trauma-Informed Art Model that can be used and replicated to create such an environment. The points of this model move from Orient to Regulate to Create to Reflect and Share. Participants will explore nurturing, respectful language for artmaking, as well as emphasis on process and product.

Our creating often includes movement. For those who have experienced trauma, there is a sense of disembodiment. When regulation and movement is incorporated, the body-mind connection is enhanced. Research shows that making art increases blood flow to the brain, relaxes the nervous system, and releases serotonin.

Through work with young people, Paint Love noted several topics important for growth and development: grief/loss, self-esteem, empathy, social justice, and identity. The presentation teaches ways art responds to these topics as well as how to use art to address the topics with young people in your workspace.

Evidence

Much research exists around the use of art as an intervention with individuals who have experienced trauma-- especially in regards to creative therapies, like music, art, and drama therapy. Research shows that art effects our bodies by increasing blood flow, releasing serotonin and calming the nervous system. For young people, art is also a form of play. Play is incredibly impactful. Significant research exists around its importance -- especially regarding play therapy.

Paint Love has served 10,000 kids in the past six years. Our model has been replicated in many spaces and has received positive feedback from clinicians, agency/school staff, and children.

Learning Objectives

Goal: Participants understand why using art can be a valuable tool for work with youth.

  • Participants understand the research regarding the use of art.
  • Participants understand language around teaching art.
  • Participants will understand the importance of process and product.
  • Participants will understand inclusion, diversity and ethics in regards to using art.

Goal: Participants understand and utilize the Trauma-Informed Art Model created by Paint Love for providing art to youth who have experienced trauma.

  • Participants will understand trauma and it's implications on the body.
  • Participants will understand and replicate regulation techniques.
  • Participants will incorporate movement into their art-making.

Goal: Participants learn projects that address the needs of youth.

  • Participants will be able to engage conversations from art-making that addresses different social-emotional learning topics.
  • Participants will participate in hands-on activities.

Biographical Sketch

Laura Shaw, MTS is the Executive Director at Paint Love, a non-profit that provides extraordinary art programming to youth who have experienced poverty/trauma. Mandy Goodwin-Noa, LCSW is the Program Director for Paint Love and a School Social Worker with Cobb County School District. Laura and Mandy are passionate about the intersection of social work and the arts and have spoken on the topic nationally and globally.

Presentation Year

2021

Start Date

3-10-2021 3:00 PM

End Date

3-10-2021 4:00 PM

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Mar 10th, 3:00 PM Mar 10th, 4:00 PM

Unleashing Creativity: Using the Arts to Empower Change

In Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van Der Kolk reminds us that trauma "rob(s)" people "of the imagination they need to create something better." Millions of young people in the US have experienced trauma and live in under-resourced communities. The arts provide a new language and space for self-exploration and social-connection. Art is essential for young people-- for re-imagining a greater future. This session features hands-on opportunities for creative play using Paint Love's Trauma-Informed Art Model.