Restorative Art Stanislaus County
Cricket’s Hope offers children traumatized by domestic violence the opportunity to envision a better future for themselves through restorative art in Stanislaus County We empower the children of our community by giving them the chance have a childhood. Art Restores Kids (ARK) is a creative healing art program that allows children to express their feelings, learn their unique gifts, and rebuild self-confidence through art and meaningful relationships. Cricket’s House, the safe home of our efforts, became part of the Stanislaus Family Justice Center (SFJC) in 2014 through a generous donation from the Christopher P. Walker Foundation. The house donation allowed SFJC to expand the program, reach more children, and heal more hearts.
ARK is both project and workshop-based—a hands-on, immersive creative healing art program for youngsters often exposed to caretakers who are addicted or violent. Though ARK is not art therapy, it is therapeutic for children. From the executive director to each volunteer, our goal is to love these children unconditionally and provide them with the support that nurtures and fosters growth, healthy attitudes, and wholesome habits. It is all about relationship-building, and we stay in contact with them, even when they change schools or towns. We model stability, reliability, and acceptance, a hope-giving foundation on which they can build their lives.
The transformative nature of the program is nearly miraculous. While ostensibly exploring lines, patterns, shapes, and colors with paint, paper, clay, and more, children learn to self-monitor their impulses and behavior to earn the privilege to attend parties, classes, and other outings. Slowly, inevitably, the children in our programs begin to show other signifiers of well-being, including trusting adults, each other, and, most importantly, themselves.
For more information about the power of restorative art in Stanislaus County to change the lives of kids, contact executive director, Cindy Schneider, at 209-312-9991 or via email at Cindy@crickets-hope.org.
PHONE
(209) 312-9991
LOCATION
Cricket's House
133 Downey Ave
Modesto, CA 95354
HOURS
M-Fri 9am–5pm
Cindy@crickets-hope.org