Self-Affirmation
SAFE participants engage in creative movement during the "Self Affirmation" component of the SAFE through the Arts program
Engaging an in activity during the "Self Affirmation " component of the SAFE through the Arts program
Self Affirmation collages made during the SAFE through the Arts program retreat

Financial-independence
Checkbook in hand, dramatic role play demonstrates self-empowerment during the "Financial independence" component of the SAFE through the Arts program
Searching for a job, as part of the "Financial independence" component of the SAFE through the Arts program

Education of non-violence
Learning to work cooperatively in the "Education of non-violence" component of the SAFE through the Arts program
Margaret and Allison demonstrating a game during the "Education of non-violence" component of the SAFE through the Arts program
Journal writing during the "Education of non-violence" component of the SAFE through the Arts program

Culmination of the SAFE through the Arts Program

SAFE through the Arts program participants working in small groups on creative projects

SAFE through the arts program retreat, July 21st-23rd, 2008

Monday, July 21st

Azalea Blossom board member Pat arrived last night in order to help out with the SAFE through the arts program retreat. By the time the sun came out this morning, I was busy at work again with the others soon joining me. I was amazed to find that Natalie actually managed to get some sleep on the office couch ensconced among all the beach balls and poster board that were there! There were more posters to be made, the SAFE through the arts key component mobile for me to complete, and handbooks to compile, among other tasks.

More SAFE through the arts retreat participants began to arrive by 4PM in time for our afternoon orientation. Fortunately, the weather cooperated with bright sunshine gracing our afternoon. As soon as the president of the board and former college roommate Katie arrived from Ohio with her family and puppy, we began by forming a circle. After the customary introductions, I was elated to engage the participants in more interesting and challenging activities including lining up (without speaking) according to height and then by birthday, and the game “people to people” that got everyone moving around the circle and laughing spontaneously.

Everyone pitched in to help get dinner ready, which consisted of pizza and salad. After a communal effort at cleaning up, we punctually began our first session of the SAFE through the arts program, “Day One”, which starts with a showing of the “Bricks in the Wall” music video and focuses on communicating the facts about domestic violence. We also introduced the three components of the SAFE through the arts program: Self Affirmation, Financial independence, and Education of non-violence. I also led the group in two activities: The first was an exercise in which each person is given a card with a fact or myth about domestic violence written on it, and participants must decide which they have by moving to the “fact” or “myth” side of the room. We also attempted to make a “spider web” with the equality wheel, but the pieces of yarn were getting too tangled up with one another. After “class was dismissed”, we gathered on the front porch to work on our collages, the homework assignment for “Day One”, which leads into the opening discussion of the Self-Affirmation key component for “Day Two”.

The objective of the assignment is to assemble a collage using pictures from newspapers and magazines that are a positive representation of one’s self. Everyone seemed to enjoy this activity, which was followed by a late night snack of popcorn. By this time, I was definitely ready for a good night’s sleep!

Tuesday, July 22nd

It wasn’t surprising that after all the exuberant activity of last night, we got off to a little bit of a late start this morning. Dixie, Mary and Maddy arrived promptly by 8AM in time for breakfast (bagels and cream cheese, cereal, and fruit), ready to review the material from the previous night. Once Allison arrived from Ballston Spa (over an hour away), and the others had assembled, we began the day’s program.

We began the day outside in the hot sunshine with the class on Self-Affirmation, which begins with a meditation as participants stand in a circle. (See “Go to your Tree Place”). The lesson proceeds with an exercise in which participants throw a beach ball to another member while stating a positive affirmation about him or herself. We then matched the affirmations to movements, and ended by connecting all the movements together to form a dance of empowerment. We all used our kinesthetic intelligence and did a pretty good job remembering each other’s movements.

After that, we started our class on Financial independence, which began with each participant choosing a college and a concentrated area of study, as well as searching for a potential job in the classified section of the newspaper. After passing out check registers to each participant, we began our dramatic role-play. I asked each person to find a partner. Then, I gave out hypothetical scenarios (such as going on a job interview, going to work, depositing money in the bank, and withdrawing money) for each pair to act out. One partner played the part of the person attempting to assert his or her independence, while the other person portrayed the abusive partner. Then the participants switched roles. Everyone really enjoyed this activity and we had a few laughs, too!

The next class was on the third key component, which is Education of nonviolence. After I explained the principals of nonviolent communication (based on Marshal Rosenberg’s teachings), we engaged in a game that I created called “Musical Mats”. This game differs slightly from musical chairs in that the objective was not elimination, but communication. We started off the activity by placing two small mats inside our circle. When Natalie stopped the happening hip-hop music, everyone had to squeeze onto the mats, with no feet or other body parts touching the ground. I then asked everyone to take out their journals and write about the experience in terms of what they observed, what they felt, and what they needed to communicate to other people in order to feel more comfortable. This exercise illustrated the importance of being able to state ones needs, and having one’s needs met.

With the little time we had left before lunch, we broke into three small groups to work on our final projects, which took the form of creative visual or dramatic presentations to be shared with the whole group later on. After lunch, we assembled for an afternoon of recreation and swimming at nearby lake Myosotis. Unfortunately, rain, thunder and lightening followed so we headed back to the house to work on designing the SAFE through the arts logo and slogan, which was one of the focus group topics. The kids came up with some very creative artwork as well as brilliant ideas.Before we knew it, it was time to make dinner. Tacos were on the menu, and each person had a different idea of how to make guacamole! Cooking and cleaning were once again a collaborative effort. After dinner we gathered into our small groups for an hour or so of diligent work, and then met as a whole for our presentations. Natalie and I were laughing so hard during the rehearsal of our skit--a PSA for the SAFE through the arts program--with Greg that there were actually tears in Natalie’s eyes! Everyone greatly enjoyed each other’s presentations and it was time for make–your–own ice cream sundaes before retiring to bed.

Wednesday, July 23rd

On the third and final day of the SAFE through the arts retreat, we all congregated for the purpose of giving feedback for future SAFE through the arts programs. We also repeated the “Fact or Myth” game from day one. I was grateful for the overwhelming positive response to the program as well as some helpful feedback and suggestions. After lunch we worked on painting t-shirts with the logos and slogans we came up with, and prepared for the Azalea Blossom board meeting that took place later in the afternoon.

In spite of some rain and a few other incidents, all in all I thought that the SAFE through the arts program retreat was a success! And as we said throughout the week, “SAFE rocks!!”

Quotes from SAFE Through The Arts Retreat Participants

“The SAFE Through The Arts Program is really well crafted by Margaret Bernstein and an excellent informational course for middle school students. The activities are entertaining and make it possible for everyone to participate. Learning to prevent domestic violence through the arts is a brilliant idea and I hope that all who participate in this program enjoy it as much as I did.” – Dixie Ouellette

“The SAFE Through The Arts Program really made me aware of the dangers and facts about domestic violence.” – Maddy Ouellette

“This program makes a lot of sense and would be a healthy addition to any school.” –SAFE Through The Arts retreat participant

“The SAFE Through The Arts retreat was an amazing experience.” – Mary Hnatko

"I loved the group project experience because ideas started pouring out of me and the same for the other people in my group. The collage homework was a great way to learn about myself. On my own I rediscovered that I have two sides, inner and outer that can both help me stand strong." –SAFE Through The Arts retreat participant