Creative Expression Program

A Place Called Home's (APCH) Creative Expression Program provides experiential arts education in dance and music to at-risk youth between the ages of 8 and 20, in South Central Los Angeles. The Creative Expression program goals are: (1) to increase the likelihood that participants remain in school and graduate; (2) to increase each participant's capacity for positive, non-prejudicial and nonviolent interaction with peers, teachers, other adults, and family members; (3) to reduce drug and alcohol use among youth participants; and (4) to reduce participant's involvement in criminal behavior or gang activity. In order to acheive these goals, the program will provide professional-level instruction in dance and music to at least 100 unduplicated at-risk or high-risk youth annually and performance opportunities to at least 50 unduplicated youth annually. To evaluate the program's effectiveness, staff will review school report cards and utilize additional evaluation tools to indicate positive behavioral change (e.g., increased sense of accountability and responsibility, improved self-esteem). These results will be reported to OJJDP in the grantee's Categorical Assistance Progress Reports. NCA/NCF