What can help young people overcome the stress of life during COVID-19 and distance learning? ArtForce Iowa chooses LOVE & ART during a time of extreme stress. COVID cases are alarmingly high in Iowa, and we already see school shutdowns happening around the state. We will send loving care packages to 100 Iowa youth who are less likely to have arts opportunities surrounding them, because they live in poverty, are refugees, or are living in state-run facilities or shelters.
How can a child find hope amid a pandemic, a storm, or a crisis? The struggles of children are largely unseen and their voices rarely heard during difficult time. A derecho (equivalent to category 4 hurricane) struck Iowa on August 10, 2020, leaving families without power and water. Lower-income households were especially hard-hit. These young survivors must express themselves. Art can help. ArtForce Iowa wants the youth of Iowa to know we are listening, we care, and we love what they create.
The opportunity to express oneself creatively is a means of escape from daily hardship and a path towards mitigating trauma and building resilience. Rather than a handout, ArtForce Iowa art kits and care packages are expressions of love and solidarity. Youth artists are equipped and empowered to make art to sell through http://www.ArtForceIowashop.com, earning money for themselves and their families and learning valuable entrepreneurial skills.
The children, youth and families of ArtForce Iowa know that they have a resource who truly cares about their well-being and safety, in the form of a community of artist mentors and supporters. We affirm that societies thrive through love and mutual respect. Even though the US political landscape can feel dangerous and threatening, we affirm the values of our youth. By encouraging youth to make art, we create a lifelong path towards healing.