Creative Community Model
The Creative Community Model is based on the premise that humans are essentially creative and are wired for connection. We come alive when we are seen and heard and feel safe enough to fully express ourselves.
The community model is designed to work in two directions, so that the adults are able to help to empower young people and in turn the young people are able to help to empower and awaken the potential of their adult mentors. Creative communities are about giving each other space and encouragement to be authentically themselves. Every member of the community helps to set that tone.
The Creative Community Model requires everyone to push themselves to their creative limits. Whereas many programs expect adults to passively observe the youth do their thing, creative-community programs require the full participation of everyone involved. This brings out the best in youth and adults alike and sets the stage for authentic relationships across generations and cultures.
The Process
The Creative Community Model combines the expressive arts, experiential learning, and creative facilitation to promote self-esteem, motivation, social and emotional literacy, a sense of purpose, cross-cultural competence, community involvement, and 21st century leadership skills.
The model can be used in a variety of ways to foster strong, authentic relationships and meaningful friendships. At PYE we most commonly use the model to run multi-day camps with young people, but there are many ways that it can be applied.
The Creative Community Model:
- Provides tools that young people actually need, like social and emotional intelligence, creativity, and imagination.
- Is user-friendly. Even a one-day training session gives participants a wide range of activities that will immediately impact the quality of their interaction with youth.
- Fosters collaboration. PYE programs attract teachers, youth workers, artists, and leaders across broad sectors of a community to work together on behalf of youth.
- Attracts large numbers of loyal volunteers who go on to seek new ways to use their time and resources to work with youth.
- Is adaptable across a wide range of cultures and a broad range of issues.
- Invites diversity. Programs bring together youth from a wide cultural and economic spectrum, teaching them to cross cultural barriers with confidence and compassion.
- Bridges generations. Youth and adults inspire each other in a dynamic learning process that calls on the creativity of everyone.
- Promotes joyful interaction.
- Engages even the most reluctant youth and keeps them coming back.
To see a graphic illustration of the Creative Community Model click on the links below:
“Creative expression is most often accompanied by a feeling of shimmering joy.”
- psychologist Rollo May