The desire to be included is universal, a feeling that everyone can relate to. From elementary school through retirement, people brighten at the opportunity to contribute to conversations, problem solving, and projects. But it is teenagers – with their budding individuality and preoccupation with social acceptance – who may have the hardest time having their voices heard and hearing the voices of others. How wonderful it would be for all teens to be able to meet their peers in the community in a safe, nonjudgmental place – and if all of them could work together on a common project.
This was the idea behind Teen Sketch, a program held this spring, in which teens worked together to create gorgeous murals that will soon enhance the walls of the JCC and the Pearlstone Center. Two programs were held, one at the JCC and one at Pearlstone, and each group met twice. The project was very successful not only in the beautiful work of art that emerged from it but also in giving the teens of various talents and abilities a chance contribute and shine, each in their own way.
Teen Sketch is part of the B’more DoMore Inclusive projects, initiated by Mrs. Yael Zelinger, disability and inclusion associate. “Last year, we ran B’More Inclusive experiences in seven local Jewish middle schools,” says Mrs. Zelinger. “We had typical teens working together with kids who have different learning styles representing a variety of schools and programs like Bais Yaakov, Cheder Chabad, Sulam, Gesher LaTorah, Harbor School, Baer School, Bnos Yisroel, Baltimore Lab School, Cockeysville Middle school, Beth Tfiloh, and Yachad. Our goal was for them to make something together to benefit someone else in the community. The concept was very well received.”
Some of the projects were making no-sew scarves for the homeless, no-sew bags for food packages to be delivered, rain sticks for kids in the hospital, and placemats for seniors who were moving to a new residence. “During the last session, I asked each teen to write a commitment to themselves,” says Mrs. Zelinger, “something they planned to do differently after having experience B’More Inclusive. We didn’t read them. The teens placed their commitment in an envelope, and sealed and addressed it to themselves.”
This winter, Mrs. Zelinger mailed the letters back to them with a sticker on the envelope inviting them to DoMore Inclusive. On April 29, many of the girls from last year’s program came, along with some new girls. They convened in the basement of the Park Heights JCC to start on a beautiful and meaningful mural to give back to the JCC in a gesture of gratitude for all that they do for our community.
Warm Up
At the start of the first Teen Sketch meeting, on April 29, the girls were reserved, facing a group of other girls whom they didn’t know. A team-building game, led by Sara Rubinstein, of the JCC, broke the ice and were engaging enough to make the girls more comfortable and ready for the art activity.
First, the girls threw a beach ball to each other with questions that were written on the ball, such as what is your favorite song, favorite color, if you could fill a pool with anything, what you would choose, if you were an animal, which would you be, etc. Next, the girls were split into groups of four or five and given an assortment of items, such as pails, spools of yarn, and “kindness rocks” (rocks with kind messages on them). Each group made an obstacle course and was then tasked with helping one girl complete the course blindfolded. At first, no one wanted to do the course, but Meira, a good natured girl from Bais Yaakov middle school, who has Down syndrome, gladly volunteered. Using teamwork, the girls had to get the other girl across, instilling trust in each other as well as giving each girl the opportunity to problem solve and help in her own way.
Finally, all the girls stood in a circle and were asked 10 questions. If they could answer yes, they we’re instructed to step into the middle. Questions included: Do you have a pet? Can you eat more than two scoops of ice cream? Do you dislike cleaning your room? Have you lived in more than one house? This was a game, and some questions were silly, but as the girls looked around at who had joined them in the inner circle, they realized that people whom they had never met have many things in common with them. Now the group was ready to start the art project.
Making Art, Making Friends
The drawing and painting of the mural was directed by artist and longtime art teacher, Mrs. Chana Singer. The cofounder of Tizmoret Shoshana, an arts camp for Orthodox girls, Mrs. Singer volunteered for the Teen Sketch project. The mural was inspired by the artistic style of graffiti artist Keith Haring. The stick-figure-like men were not too difficult to draw, thanks to the fun and clear instructions of Mrs. Singer. She was ably assisted by local deaf artists, Mrs. Tchiya Kastor and Mrs. Leah Caplan.
The girls were sitting around the table working hard on drawing, coloring, and cutting out the little figures. While they worked, they talked and giggled with their neighbors. I asked a few of them how they heard about the program and why they decided to come. “I heard about it from a teacher in school, and I thought it would be fun to come with my friends and do it together,” Lila told me as she cut out one of her men. Another girl, Miriam, touched directly on the goal of DoMore Inclusive and Teen Sketch when I asked her how this program differed from ones she’d experienced in the past. “It’s all different girls from the community getting together to work on one big project. It was fun to meet new people. It was a great experience.”
On Sunday, May 27, Teen Sketch traveled to Pearlstone to start another mural for that campus. That program was co-ed and gave opportunities for boys to join the goal of inclusivity for all teens of our community. The opening activity was very similar to the one at the JCC. The obstacle course really struck me as genius, seeing the kids totally perk up once the challenge was presented to them. It set the tone for the rest of the program.
I wanted to know what drew teens to the project. “I wanted to have fun, learn something new, meet new people, and help Pearlstone because I like helping people,” Ethan told me as he drew another figure. His friend Yoni piped up, “I love helping out with the drawings. I like to draw, but it’s fun to do it with other people.”
Ethan and Yoni stuck together like brothers. Yoni is older and taller, yet Ethan supports Yoni in social situations. When learning how to draw the figures, Yoni caught on first and copied the demonstration exactly. That helped Ethan understand what to do, and he thanked Yoni for his help.
Drawing with friends and learning new skills were the most common things that the teens told me at both programs. While many of them said they didn’t feel confident enough to come without a friend as a backup, meeting new people, going through the obstacle course, and figuring out how to draw the figures together with old and new friends definitely shifted the dynamic to something they couldn’t have experienced in a different setting.
One boy related that he loves to draw comic books, and this was a new drawing technique that he planned to bring to his hobby. Later on Sunday, I returned to the JCC with Mrs. Zelinger and Mrs. Kastor, where a much more intimate group of three girls put the finishing touches on the mural there. The girls were extremely focused and worked diligently, even past the time the project was meant to be finished. When I asked how they felt returning to complete the mural, Chana answered, “I feel really good about myself that I was able to be part of this.”
Many of the teens I talked to, both at the JCC and at Pearlstone, loved coming together to collaborate on art. Art is definitely special, and I learned a lot from sitting in on the Teen Sketch programs. But, more than learning new things, it put something in perspective that I already knew: Sometimes it can be hard to get to know the people around us, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. There are so many talents and so much inspiration within others that we never get to see because we often don’t look. I am inspired for strides like DoMore Inclusive, and I am hopeful for more inclusive projects in the future.
B’More DoMore Inclusive is a project of the Louis D. and Morton J. Macks center for Jewish Education. For more information on how you can get involved in future programs contact yzelinger@cjebaltimore.org.
