Urban smARTS
 Tafolla Middle School students complete their flutes. |
The intervention program, now known as Urban smARTS, combines arts activities with conflict resolution training and other prevention services to build students¹ resiliency and help prevent them from entering the criminal justice system. At each of eight school sites, three artists and three caseworkers join one teacher and one university student intern to work with a maximum of 60 students per site, three days a week from 3 to 6 PM for 18 weeks during the year-round school schedule. The children take classes in the visual arts, dance, theater, literature, music, photography and videography. Each session culminates in a performance or exhibition.
But the offerings go beyond the arts. The program incorporates field trips, nutrition, transportation, and social work components. Nutrition is crucial because many children do not have enough to eat at home. The field trips are coordinated with the arts curriculum and expose children to communities outside their own. Transportation is provided, since walking home presents security problems in these high-crime communities. And ongoing case management, family counseling and resource referrals makes this arts program a gateway to critical family and child support services. At the heart of Urban smARTS is a partnership among artists, caseworkers, teachers and community friends, who use their talents and resources to give young people a new direction in life.
| Urban
smARTS Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs Department of Community Initiatives City of San Antonio PO Box 839966 San Antonio, TX 78283 Phone: 210-207-7209 Fax: 210-207-4254 E-Mail: dcampa@ci.sat.tx.us URL: http://www.ci.sat.tx.us/comminit Focus: Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts Number Participating: 480 Ages: 11-14 Annual Budget: $115,000 In 1995, Urban smARTS joined a tri-city evaluation to measure the impact of arts-based prevention programming on juvenile delinquency. The early results suggest a positive impact on the skills, attitudes and behaviors of participants. |