Journey through the Arts- (A creative, therapeutic exploration of self)

In which borough should your idea take place? Brooklyn

Do you have a specific neighborhood(s) in mind?

Bushwick

Which audience(s) does your idea help? Select as many as apply.

Youth

Parents

Justice impacted individuals

Limited English proficient individuals

Veterans

Low income individuals

Black, Indigenous, and POC

Older adults

Unemployed individuals

LGBTQ+ community

Immigrants and/or migrants

Public housing residents

People with disabilities

Describe the challenge you want to address:

In the heart of Bushwick, Brooklyn, there exists a profound desire to cultivate transformative spaces for the underserved and often overlooked members of our community. Recognizing the power of creative expression as a catalyst for healing, our vision extends beyond traditional arts classes. We aspire to provide a sanctuary where these community members can not only explore their cultural heritage through the lens of the arts but also find therapeutic support to navigate and unravel the complexities of their lived experiences. The aim is to offer more than just a creative outlet; it is an initiative grounded in the understanding that artistic endeavors can serve as a poignant tool for processing and healing from the deep-seated traumas that may linger within. Through these cultural arts services, we aspire to empower and uplift the residents of Bushwick, fostering resilience and a sense of identity that transcends the challenges of their surroundings.

In recognition of this challenge, we would like to expand our cultural creative arts programming in Bushwick as a way to foster community and take advantage of our community center facilities.

Describe your idea and approach to address the challenge:

The idea is to engage community residents in a creative, therapeutic process where they can unpack some of their traumatic lived experiences, and start the journey of healing, the journey back to themselves. We will recruit community members who are interested in exploring this journey by accessing cultural creative arts classes in the areas of theatre, music, spoken word, visual arts and dance.

The approach will be to meet the residents where they are in their process, and provide the tools, support and mentorship needed, so they can share the stories of their lives and raise awareness of issues they may have faced, and challenges overcome. Classes will be held weekly at times that are most convenient to the populations served, be it morning, afternoon or evening.

This will culminate in an end of year sharing of devised and created work at our "Journey through the Arts" event.

Write the zipcode that best represents your New York City community:

11237