Art Reaching Kids, a nonprofit organization, seeks to partner with cultural institutions and treatment facilities to help at-risk teens build a sense of self-worth as they learn to create and exhibit art work. Together they experimented with Steve’s “Three Threes Method” of teaching design and applied the method to a painting project with at-risk kids. Students of all ages and abilities can benefi
t from the opportunity to express themselves creatively in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. The “Three-threes” work very well in that each student is only judged on how well they follow the rule of threes. The second prong of the ARK method is to have a professional art show and sell the paintings to art patrons. This process allows the students to experience life as a professional artist. They must dress well, discuss their work with the patrons and close the deal. The money goes directly to the kids, whether in their custodial accounts or in their pockets. This reinforces their self-worth in a very tangible way. Although in at-risk kids self-expression can be very therapeutic, ARK is NOT an art therapy organization. Since most of the kids are in residential treatment and may be under the jurisdiction of the courts, volunteers focus on art and cannot try to provide any therapy. ARK has worked with young, physically- challenged kids, teens in addiction treatment, preteens in sexual abuse programs, homeless children, pregnant teens, mentally-challenged young adults and runaways in residential programs. The method has been proven effective in all cases.
