Expressions Program of the Arts

"Music is my favorite part of the week. I didn't think I could play anything and now I can play a few songs on the guitar and I even sang in front of people. I never thought I would do that." - Female Homebridge Resident

Expressions, is a multi-component life skills program that utilizes the Arts to facilitate resiliency and success in youth at risk. Since the development of the Expressions Program of the Arts in 2004, over 850 youth have had the opportunity to develop a greater respect for themselves and others, experience success and obtain life skills necessary to increase their resilience; thereby, decreasing factors that place them at risk of substance use, early school drop out, involvement in the sex trade, chronic unemployment, youth homelessness and anti-social behaviors.

To date, youth living throughout the HomeBridge Community have participated in art, music, dance, drama, circus skills, digital photography, kickboxing, Tai Chi, yoga and videography classes. For many this offers a creative outlet for their emotions that they have never experienced before and an opportunity to feel valued and connected.

The Conference Board of Canada has evidence based research proving that youth who have outside interests are more apt to stay in school and we have seen this first hand since we have added the Expressions Program of the Arts to our regular programming in Bridges For Learning. It has been our experience that when the youth have success in music or art, for example, it makes them more engaged in the learning process and look forward to coming to school.

As the program has evolved over the years HomeBridge has made a concerted effort to not only grow each individual part of the program, but also to employ an inter-disciplinary team approach and look for the latest therapeutic practices to add to the program. Each year the program is planned with an overall theme to connect each component. The 2010-2011 year challenged the young people to look deeper within themselves for inspiration as the program worked under a theme of “Mind, Body and Soul”. The three core components continued to be Art, Music Therapy and Circus Skills, however Tai Chi, Meditation and Flying Yoga were also been added.

For the 2011- 2012 session, which begins in September, the team is planning a theme of “Free to be Me - Diversity and Acceptance”. Under this guide the program will once again include the core components of Art, Music Therapy, Circus Skills and Flying Yoga and Dance will be added. All components of this program will use the theme as a guide for the content of their sessions. The year will also include monthly events that focus on expanding the young people’s knowledge and understanding of different cultures and ways of living. Examples of this include a traditional African meal and a viewing of “Speak it! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia” by Sylvia Hamilton in honour of African Heritage Month.

The Expressions Program of the Arts is offered in all six of HomeBridge’s residential facilities and our school program, Bridges for Learning. Sessions happen weekly in the programs and are adapted to meet the interest and needs of the individual youth involved. Classes are scheduled during school time at Bridges for Learning and are offered as advanced therapeutic programming in the evenings at all six residential facilities.

This program is entirely made possible through corporate and private donations. HomeBridge would like to thank the following supporters for making this program possible for the youth we serve:

• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

• Gordon Foundation for Children and Youth

• Bluteau DeVenney & Company

• CIBC World Markets Children’s Foundation

• Clearwater Ltd.

• Investors Group

• Halifax-Cornwallis Progress Club

• MICCO Leasing

• Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage

• RBC Foundation

• Scotia Bank

• St. Paul’s Home Board

• Telus

• Touch of Gold

• Youth Employability Project

As a result of the generousity of our supporters we have seen many young people find success and a real sense of belonging since they started this program.

Jake (not his real name) came to HomeBridge in 2009 when he was 14-years-old. He didn’t have any real hobbies and spent a lot of time alone in his bedroom listening to music and keeping to himself. A Youth Care Worker convinced him to give the Music Therapy component of the Expressions Program a try. He reluctantly agreed and within weeks was practicing guitar every chance he got. He hasn’t stopped playing since and is rarely seen without his acoustic guitar.

This year he took the stage during HomeBridge’s Annual General Meeting to show off his musical skills. He proudly took the stage and played a popular tune and then really wowed the crowd with an instrumental song that he wrote himself. Playing guitar has now become a life-long hobby for him and coping mechanism that he can take with him when he moves on from our care.

Ben (not his real name) also found success and belonging through the Expressions Program of the Arts. He came to HomeBridge as a 12-year-old boy who was very much alone. He struggled in school and struggled to fit in with the other boys that he shared his residence with. It was a sad and lonely time for Ben. He had no interest in going to school or participating in any of the programming offered through HomeBridge. His youth care team kept trying though and one day when he was attending Circus Circle instead of sitting on the sidelines, like he usually did, the facilitator was able to convince him to try the unicycle. He certainly had his share of falls as he attempted to get his balance, but seemed to be a natural from the very beginning.

And that’s all it took to change his world. He learned that it’s OK to fall as long as you pick yourself up and try again. The success and belonging he found in Circus Circle inspired him to try other things that he was afraid to participate in before. In the two years that have passed since his first attempt at on the unicycle Ben has consistently attended HomeBridge’s school Bridges for Learning, become a regular participant in art classes, learned to play several musical instruments and has become such a skilled circus performer that he has been hired to perform in public shows where he juggles, rides the unicycle and performs acrobatic acts. The change in his self-confidence and self-esteem has also been incredible.

Thank you to everyone who makes this program possible.