Mentoring Through the Arts

This grant program is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (the 'Recovery Act'). Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention made awards to support local organizations that develop, implement, or expand local mentoring programs leading to measurable, positive outcomes for at-risk youth. This program furthers the Department's mission by enhancing the capacity of local mentoring programs to develop and implement mentoring strategies to reduce juvenile delinquency and prevent violence.

The DREAMS Center for Arts Education, a youth development program dedicated to building assets through the arts via free-of-charge programming for high-risk, economically disadvantaged youth ages 8-18, will foster mentoring initiatives through: Ongoing relationships with teaching artists and staff through intensive arts programming at the DREAMS Center and at outreach sites; expanded youth entrepreneurship programming; and Teen Council and paid student internship opportunities. The longitudinal nature of the program, as well as the high rate of student and teaching artist retention, provides an environment that is highly conducive to the development of mentoring relationships. Goals and objectives include strengthening relationships with positive role models (teaching artists, staff and cultural mentors); offering additional classes at outreach sites to intensify teacher/student relationships; increasing employment readiness and job skills; providing employment opportunities for select program participants; reducing gang involvement, delinquency and negative behavior; and reducing school dropout. Progress will be measured by number of students employed; student and teacher retention rates; number of classes held; participation in Teen Council and entrepreneurship programs; and school dropout, attendance, and gang involvement/delinquency rates among participants.

This award will retain 2 full time jobs and 6 part time jobs; thus the project achieves the Recovery Act objective of promoting economic recovery by preserving or creating jobs. CA/NCF