Healing Arts Kits Bridge the Gap between Trauma and Healing:

Published: January 23, 2018

MEDIA ALERT:

Healing Arts Kits Bridge the Gap between Trauma and Healing:

Chicago Packing Party Set for 2/12
When: Monday, February 12, 5-7pm
Where: Street-Level Youth Media, 1637 N Ashland Ave, Chicago

Photographer provided by Urban Gateways.

Contact Abby Prescott at 312-445-2755 / aprescott@urbangateways.org with questions or to confirm attendance.

Each year, all too many Chicago youth and their families are struck with traumatic incidents stemming from exposure to gun violence, domestic abuse, sexual assault, substance abuse, and other forms of violence and loss; 2016 was the city’s most violent year in nearly two decades with 762 murders, 3,550 shooting incidents, and 4,331 shooting victims. Urban Gateways often engages the very same youth and families who have been exposed to trauma and has witnessed firsthand the importance of combating this trauma. Without intervention, the life expectancy of youth trauma victims decreases by 20 years. The city of Chicago is in desperate need of healing and of positive, impactful experiences. Arts intervention can provide a tool for recovery and mitigate the impact of trauma on our city’s youth.

This is why Urban Gateways has partnered with Artists 4 Israel and Chicago Survivors to pilot the distribution of A4I’s Healing Arts Kits throughout the city. Developed by Artists 4 Israel as a first response tool to bombing victims in Israel, the Healing Arts Kits are emergency psychological first aid kits, designed to be administered immediately after an incident of trauma. The purpose of the Kits is to slow or prevent the onset of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by providing the young person with activities that interrupt the trauma, stimulate self-soothing, inspire creative thinking, and otherwise utilize the elements of art therapy. The Kits were developed by children’s psychology experts, psychiatrists, emergency medical technicians, first responders, art therapists, artists, teachers, and parents, stemming from the latest research in health and art therapy practices.

“This collaboration is a necessary response to aid our city's young victims through the healing power of the arts. We hope that this project will result in a lasting, positive impact in our city by providing creative relief for children and families faced with unimaginable effects as survivors of homicide and trauma.”

-Eric Delli Bovi, Urban Gateways Executive Director

In its initial pilot, 200 Healing Arts Kits will be deployed for use by Chicago Survivors. Chicago Survivors provides citywide crisis intervention, supportive counseling, comprehensive resources, referral services, and case management to families following homicide in Chicago through trained Crisis Responders and Family Support Specialists; their services are free and open to all families who have lost a loved one to violence. Healing Arts Kits will serve as a tool for Chicago Survivors to reach youth in the aftermath of a shooting, death, or incidence of violence. The 200 pilot Kits will be available for distribution in February after the Packing Party, with further distributions rolling out as needed to reach Chicago’s young people.

“Chicago Survivors is grateful for this important creative tool. Healing from personal exposure to violence is hard work, and the Healing Arts Kits bring respite and quiet hope in the midst of chaos and tragedy.”

-Susan Johnson, Chicago Survivors Executive Director

The Healing Arts Kits Packing Party on February 12 will mark the launch of this pilot phase, with staff from Urban Gateways, Chicago Survivors, and Artists 4 Israel, as well as young people who participate in programming at Street Level, present to compile the Healing Arts Kits and prepare them for city-wide use by Chicago Survivors.

Our hope is to leverage the power of the arts to help alleviate the impact of trauma on our city’s youth and provide healing for young people affected by violence. Please plan to attend the February 12 Packing Party to learn more about this critical initiative. Contact Urban Gateways Director of Communications Abby Prescott, 312-445-2755 / aprescott@urbangateways.org, with questions or to RSVP.

This project has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation to pilot this important initiative.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Urban Gateways engages young people in arts experiences to inspire creativity and impact social change. www.urbangateways.org

Artists 4 Israel brings beauty, healing and protection to communities and people ravaged by fighting. After conflict, Artists 4 Israel makes communities beautiful again. www.artists4israel.org

Chicago Survivors helps families live beyond violent loss. They offer crisis intervention, supportive counseling and comprehensive referral services to surviving family members throughout Chicago following homicide. www.chicagosurvivors.org

Abby Prescott
Director of Communications

Urban Gateways
New address!
100 S State St Floor 4
Chicago, IL 60603
Direct: 312-445-2755
Cell: 309-531-1601
aprescott@urbangateways.org
www.urbangateways.org

pronouns: she/her/hers

Street Level Open House is February 3!
Join us & get to know our youth multimedia center.

Keywords: Artists, Healing Art, Urban Gateways