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Dear friends,
Sometimes people wonder can you really learn a new skill in a few hours?
Adia was an intern last year who was looking for some work over her winter break. We met to work in tandem on digital alterations for our program backdrops.
On day 1, we completed 20 alterations in 2.5 hours.
On day 2, in just 2 hours, we completed 30 alterations.
When we began, she expressed hesitation as this was a new experience for her, creating digital art (although she's a good painter.) Nonetheless, she rather quickly got the hang of it.
When frustration set in with a difficult to alter image, I told her I usually close the screen and start over. Instead, she experimented and ended up creating an entirely new, beautiful digital art piece!
In just a few hours, she discovered a new, marketable skill.
This demonstrates the transformative power of involving young people in work that genuinely uses their gifts. As Adia said, our programs help them "dig deep, helping them to find their strengths."
In a culture where 40% of young people suffer from persistent depression and hopelessness, according to the CDC, giving them pathways forward for meaningful work as they enter the workforce will be increasingly important in this rapidly changing world.
Adia Del Pino created digital art
🎶The Girl Who Came Out of Her Shell (photo left)
At first when I met her, she was so shy she barely spoke. Then we reached the Music Therapy section of our class and something remarkable happened ~ she stood up and started dancing! I could hardly believe it ~ this quiet girl who had been sitting in the background was now moving with such joyful abandon and confidence. It was a powerful reminder of how the right tools and environment can unlock what's extraordinary in a child.
🎵 The Boy Who Found His Smile (lower left photo, before I came over, he's tucked behind those sitting)
While he's usually really outgoing, today he put his head down and withdrew. It was clear something was wrong. One by one the others went over and one girl asked, “Did I say something that upset you? If so, I'm sorry about that." A few people came over and left. Then I walked over and squatted down and asked, “Is there anything I can do for you?” He quietly said, "I don't know."
Then, something unusual happened. Inspired by our Music Therapy section, one of the girls started beatboxing. Then I said, “You know, one of the things I love about you is how you have all these interesting sound effects that you like to do. I love it when you hiss like a cat.” His head perked up and he smiled, while the others joined in, "I like when you..." Then he started making his sound effects. Now everyone was joining in—clapping and tapping—for our impromptu song as laughter filled the room! It was a beautiful testament to the power of community and how, in today’s world, we can find ways to lift each other up, in ways that I never saw when I was younger. It was heart-warming.
Dear friends,
We thank you deeply for your continued support, and hope you and your loved ones are well.
As you know, there are those moments in life when the ground seems to shift beneath us — times when things don’t make sense, when words fall short, and when we need something deeper to hold onto and make sense of our experience.
That’s why I use the healing and expressive arts in my work ~ they give us the space and structure we need to find new contexts, nuance, meaning, and purpose in a transformative way, as confirmed by research. (And it’s why my overarching work is called HEALS Education ~ Healing & Expressive Arts for Life Skills!)
Whether working with young people or adults who are marginalized or training mental health and helping professionals, I’ve seen how the expressive arts like writing, story, music, and art-making can become powerful lifelines and healthy outlets for self-expression. These tools help people:
~ Say what they can’t otherwise say
~ Reclaim calm in the midst of chaos
~ Make sense of difficult experiences
~ Build essential life skills
~ Discover joy, purpose, and connection
These practices don’t just help — they heal. They teach. And they transform.
Today, I’d love to share a tool you can use from today’s theme, writing, along with a poem I wrote. Many of us may think we have to be writers to write, but WE DON’T! A poem can come from the letters of your name, and writing freely in a journal can give you these benefits:
