Light of Chance, Inc. is pleased to announce its next big endeavor, the Breathe Residency Program, an initiative that will send professional teaching artists to schools to engage and empower students through the arts. This group of artists will come from various areas of the creative arts and includes platinum-selling rapper/producer Vito Tisdale formerly of the world famous hip hop collective Nappy Roots.
Launched in 2012, the Breathe Youth Arts Program cultivates creativity while providing a positive environment for youth to express themselves, engage in dialogue about important issues, and experience personal and social transformation through the arts. The program provides constructive creative outlets, encourages cooperation, and teamwork; as well as teaches artistic and social skills in an environment where youth are valued and celebrated.
“We have found great success with our after-school program,” says Light of Chance founder, Eric Logan. “Our research has shown us an opportunity to expand our reach by partnering with schools and agencies to have a greater impact on youth.”
After achieving this success, Light of Chance created a school residency to bring Breathe into classrooms to provide a non-traditional creative outlet, while learning. The program educates and fosters artistic expression, leadership, and social skills through music, dance, creative writing and visual arts. Breathe is a constructive creative outlet that encourages teamwork; teaches communication and problem-solving skills, which are essential in students becoming responsible citizens in their schools and communities. The residency program has two areas of focus: classroom and at-risk youth.
The in-school residency program curriculum is uniquely developed in partnership with teachers, and is designed to help students bridge their personal narratives with issues and themes already being studied in the classroom. Teachers will have the opportunity to collaborate with teaching artists to implement a new and innovative curriculum. The program can also be incorporated into nontraditional learning spaces, such as alternative schools, day treatment, and juvenile justice centers. The program is used as a tool reduce incidences of delinquency. This helps lower the chances of youth entering the juvenile justice system and intervenes with first-time and non-serious offenders who are already in the system.
Of his involvement, Tisdale says, “I had to be involved in Breathe, being the single parent that I am and realizing some of the challenges that single-parent homes have for children,” he says. “I want show kids that you absolutely can do anything you set out to do.”
Licensed therapist Patrick Solomon, of Family Care Counseling, expounds on the impact Logan speaks of.
“Youth who feel that they are not being heard or allowed to express themselves will usually adopt negative behaviors to get the attention of their families and the community,” Solomon says. “The negative behaviors generally lead to an increase in domestic violence, gang violence and property destruction. Through the arts, young people learn to put their energy into a song, drawing and music.”
Dr. Lacretia Dye, of Counseling and Student Affairs at Western Kentucky University, says parents and youth advocates should push to have programming in schools that appeals to every aspect of the student.
“Parents should always feel empowered to speak with administration and educators about programs that support whole child development,” she says. “If a school is lacking in these [creative] areas, it is the responsible parent that introduces resources to administrators and hold them accountable for necessary programming.”
School administrators, educators, parents and youth advocates who would like to see schools partner with Light of Chance for the Breathe residency can visit the page for more information. They may also contact info@lightofchance.org with questions and to request more information.