The Art of Mentoring
Jenna Fuentes, General Employment Advisor at Westwood College in Torrance, contacted us to find out if a student group from their School of Design could mentor high-risk youth in the arts. They wanted to do a series of one-day arts projects aimed at different age groups. It was a wonderful opportunity for these college students to give back to their community while gaining valuable experience and extra credit.
They worked with the Women's Shelter of Long Beach, an emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence, including teenage mothers. More than 3 million children witness violence in their homes each year. Many of these kids suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and low self-esteem. They can develop serious emotional and behavioral problems.
Create Now provided supplies and the workshops took place the first week of February. On Monday and Tuesday, the volunteers encouraged groups of children ages 7-9 and 10-13 to paint their favorite animal in a special scenic place. The kids were taught how to mix colors among other things.
One 11 year-old boy said, "This was cool. I liked finishing my project. I think it looked good."
Wednesday and Thursday, the workshops were a "Collage Self-Portrait" for youth 14-17 years of age. One of the groups included teenage mothers who brought their babies with them. The collages focused on "Dreams, Future Goals, Where do you see yourself in the future?" The kids selected pictures from magazines, then chose colors and designs. Their mentors helped them arrange the collages in creative ways.
Maria, a 15 year-old mother said, "Making this art was fun. I liked the cutting and pasting."
The volunteers also had a blast. Anna Sahlin who is studying Interior Design said, "We showed them there are people that care about them and what they are going through."
Prince Cole wrote, "They were really sweet kids. They take in inspiration and ideas like a sponge. "
Jenna Fuentes said, "Thank you so much for allowing us to volunteer and teach art to the kids! These teenage girls made good use of composition, text, colors, and images. It was touching to hear their passions as well as their struggles."
The staff at Women's Shelter of Long Beach also appreciated our workshop. "The kids really enjoyed it," said Youth Services Counselor Patty Felix. Giovanna Martinez is the Youth Services Coordinator at the shelter. She said, "The youth participated well with each other and the adults. Thanks, Create Now."