How Youth in Creative Solutions Are Reframing Their Futures
By Vincent Coronado
One of the first changes we see in Creative Solutions is confidence.
A lot of youth come in saying, “I’ve never performed before” or “I’ve never painted before.” But by the end, you can see their confidence grow, whether they’re introverted or extroverted. The change is visible day to day.
That transformation is at the heart of Creative Solutions, a trauma-informed, arts-based workforce development program for youth impacted by the justice system. Through visual and performing arts, they learn to express themselves, build trust, and lead.
Communication is one of the biggest areas of growth we witness. Youth often start off hesitant to talk to staff or get to know their peers. Over time, trust builds, and they even begin to overshare in the best way. To be able to build that trust in such a short amount of time – it’s amazing to see.
They also develop communication skills as workforce development. How will your boss know what you need if you don’t speak up? They learn that here, and they end up leading each other – supporting one another with feedback, encouragement, and collaboration. If someone needs help, they turn to each other. They’re building confidence by building each other up.
That’s what audiences will get to see at the Creative Solutions Showcase: a better sense of who these young people are and the stories they’re willing to share through their art. Not just as young people in the justice system, but as real human beings, coming with circumstances that are often completely outside of their control. They’re able to turn it into something within their control through what they create during the program.
And that’s why programs like this are so vital. Oftentimes, these youth don’t have a positive outlet or a way to express their emotions. A lot of them are very closed off at the beginning. But the more that art is intertwined with how they’re feeling, the easier it is to express what they’re going through. They may not say it out loud, but we can see it on a canvas, hear it in the lyrics, or feel it in a beat.
Come experience it for yourself. Join us at the Creative Solutions Showcase and witness their confidence and self-expression. Learn more and RSVP here.
