We all know that creating art is so much more than an activity to keep busy. When we create, we get to express ourselves in a deeper and more meaningful way.
For our youth at Shiloh House, art is often an outlet or a way to communicate when words aren’t enough. Our Beyond the Walls coaches understand how powerful art can be; that’s why they’re introducing a new opportunity within the program called Bloom!
Youth in our Beyond the Walls program are 14-26, and are often unsupported in other programs or aging out of the foster care system. Each Beyond the Walls participant has the opportunity to learn life skills and receive assistance in finding housing, building their resume, applying to jobs, budgeting, and creating goals. They each have unique stories to share, and through Bloom they are able to express those stories in a new way.
At Bloom, young people in our Beyond the Walls program learn about who they are and how to express themselves through art. The group uses all different mediums of art from acrylic paint, song writing and composition, as well as monologues and acting. Bloom meets once a month and follows a different theme each quarter. This quarter’s theme is “Growth.”
Amy Coy, Lead Independent Living Coach, shares her favorite part of Bloom: “I love seeing how creative our youth truly are and watching them create something they feel proud about.” She especially enjoys seeing young people in Beyond the Walls try a new art form and realize how much they enjoy it.
Shiloh House is excited for this new component of our Beyond the Walls program to positively impact so many young lives!