Jill Gurr felt a need to make a difference in the world. In 1994, she began a Screenwriting Workshop at Optimist Youth Homes, a boys' detention center in Eagle Rock, CA. She spent several months writing a screenplay with a group of these kids who were incarcerated for a variety of crimes. After the workshop, Jill discovered that many of the boys who were illiterate had learned how to read and write through her program, while others wanted to go back to school or enter college. One tough gang leader even had tattoos removed. Seeing the incredible impact of this program, Jill initiated a second Screenwriting Workshop at a coed detention facility and saw the same results.
Jill shared her experience with an associate Erika Clark, and realized that there were probably many other people that wanted to make a difference by mentoring these kids. She thought she could help others find youth to mentor so that they could reach more young people. Erika called her the following week to report that Leslie Stevens, her producing professor at the American Film Institute, was so impressed by Jill's idea and passion to help these high-risk youth that he was giving her a $5,000 donation to start a nonprofit organization.
The organization, initially named Write Now, was founded in 1996 with the mission to teach literacy through different forms of creative writing. Soon after, it became apparent that many of these kids preferred other forms of creativity, such as music and art. In 1998, the organization's name was changed to Create Now and they have been helping thousands of troubled youth ever since.
Create Now serves vulnerable kids ages 2-25 who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, orphaned, are left homeless, runaways, teen parents, substance abusers, victims of domestic violence, children of prisoners, gang members or incarcerated. The youth they serve come from poverty-stricken families with histories of violence, substance abuse, or neglect. These "forgotten children" are tucked away in group homes, shelters, detention facilities, special centers and schools throughout the Southern California region, under the radar of the general public.
Create Now has developed an extensive database of over 1,200 youth facilities throughout Southern California that enables them to match volunteers with high-risk or at-risk kids in their own neighborhood, based on the youths' ages, genders, challenges and other preferences. Create Now trains the mentors, helps them to customize their curriculum and give materials for their workshops.
Through Create Now's five program areas; music, art, writing, performing arts and cultural excursions, high-risk and at-risk youth learn to express themselves in a positive manner versus the destructive ways that they have in the past. Creative expression has been proven to be very therapeutic, especially for traumatized children. Create Now programs develop youths' talent and abilities. They build teamwork, self-esteem and confidence.
Each year,
Create Now also brings thousands of these kids to free concerts, plays and other cultural events at premiere venues throughout the region. These field trips not only educate youth while exposing them to new types of music, theater and art, but also bring them relief and joy. In addition, Create Now arranges General Mentoring, like one-on-one "Special Friend" relationships, and teaching life skills to small groups of youth.
The arts serve as a powerful way for kids who have suffered the trauma of abuse, neglect, homelessness and other challenges to express their innermost feelings. They learn to channel their emotions and begin the healing process. According to a study conducted by the British Columbia School of Art Therapy, the arts are crucial to the healing of abused children.
- Creative art expression enhances self-esteem through mastery over media.
- Art allows a child the distance needed to build trust with an adult.
- Art heals through the child's increased ability to control self and media.
- Art provides a safe outlet for expression of regressive impulses, anger, and other difficult feelings.
- The art process promotes insight and reduces defensiveness.
Some children have no language to describe their thoughts and feelings; visual expression, music, dance and other creative outlets offer a greater range of effective vocabulary than is possible through verbalization.
Everyone has the opportunity to create a better future for themselves and inspire others with their creative talents. Through
Create Now's creative arts mentoring programs and services, high-risk and at-risk youth and their community have the opportunity to heal and explore their unique creative self-expression and passions.
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Source: http://www.createnow.org/
