The Virtues Project

Two of our second level Ambassadors of Kindness have been working on our Virtues Wall.  

Please come join us as we appreciate the warmer days and paint outside during our after school hours.

Love Thy Neighbor

The Foundation of our Youth Programming

The Core Curriculum of the Art Garage Ambassadors of Kindness is based on Seligman’s Positive Psychology Character Strengths and Virtues.  There are six categories of virtues. 
1.       Wisdom/Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, innovation
2.       Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality, zest
3.       Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence
4.       Justice: citizenship, fairness, leadership
5.       Temperance: forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self-control
6.       Transcendence: appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, spirituality
 
These rotate each month of operation. 
January: Justice citizenship, fairness, leadership
February: Temperance  forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self-control
March:Wisdom and Knowledge creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, innovation
April: Transcendence appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, spirituality
May: Courage bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality, zest
June:  Humanity love, kindness, social intelligence
July: Justice citizenship, fairness, leadership
Aug: Temperance forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self-control
Sept: Wisdom & Knowledge creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, innovation
October: Courage bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality, zest
November: Transcendence appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, spirituality
December:  Humanity love, kindness, social intelligence

Identifying as Good

My experience working in various school districts showed me that many children who have experienced trauma come to identify themselves as Bad and Dumb.  The goal of the AoK program is to help our youth see themselves as good and worthy.

The Level 1 Ambassadors of Kindness begins with recognizing the good qualities in each other.

​We have taken our programming from the Virtues Project.

The Virtues Project

From the Virtues Project Website:
The Virtues Project empowers individuals to live more authentic meaningful lives, families to raise children of compassion and integrity, educators to create safe, caring, and high performing learning communities, and leaders to encourage excellence and ethics in the work place. It has inspired and mobilized people worldwide to commit acts of service and generosity, to heal violence with virtues.
For the Community House Network programming, we will employ some of the framework of the Virtues Project and utilize some of the child and family friendly resources.  
The Virtues Project utilized five strategies:
1. Speak the Language of Virtues: Language has the power to discourage or to inspire. Using virtues to acknowledge, guide, correct and thank awakens the best within us.
2. Recognize Teachable Moments:  Recognizing the virtues needed in daily challenges helps us to become lifelong learners open to the lessons of character.
3. Set Clear Boundaries: Boundaries based on respect and restorative justice create a climate of peace, cooperation, and safety in our homes, schools, and communities.
4. Honor the Spirit: We sustain our vision and purpose by integrating virtues into our activities, surroundings, celebrations, and the arts.
5. Offer Companioning: Being deeply present and listening with compassionate curiosity guides others to find clarity and to create their own solutions. It supports healing and growth.
Through applying the language of the virtues we begin to create a culture of kindness and goodness.

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The Ambassador's of Kindness Program

The AoK program is designed to expose the youth to the qualities of good character using a modified version of the Virtues Project.  
Ambassadors of Kindness Level 1.Day 1.  Everyone who comes to the CH for the first time is introduced to the AoK program in the same way.  
Presenting the virtues, having youth pick five (or more), creating an AoK contract, ending the day with awarding virtues stickers.
Each day of attendance at the CH or AG, the youth should be encouraged to recognize the virtues in their peers, and award stickers to them.  When there are a number of new comers this should be done as a group, with full attention, at the end of the day.
Ambassadors of Kindness Level 2.Once the AoK has reached level 2, they are awarded a certificate which is hung on the wall, and then are ready to begin their kindness initiative in their portfolio (see below).

Portfolios and Project Based Learning

Portfolios provide a means of understanding our students and allowing them to begin to create a record and build on their own work in a meaningful way.  Students' work should be saved in their portfolios, and students should be encouraged to build their portfolios as they build skills and develop creative projects.  Things that can be held in the portfolio can include attendance at the CH, Music, poetry, stories, project ideas and plans, drawings, etc.  File totes can also be used as a type of work portfolio for larger items.   Digital portfolios can also be developed as the students begin to put their work out into the world.

The Process of Project Based Learning that is used by the Community House and Center for Creative Learning is one that is currently under development by Abigail Larrison and Brandy Moorman.  Projects and Portfolios are designed to help create a resource for supporting students in finding their gifts.

All youth are referred to as Ambassadors of Kindness (AoK). 

Integrating Positive Identity into Activities and Content

The Art Garage believes that creativity is a pathway to self-awareness.  We believe everyone is good, as created by the divine creator.  We believe that this goodness simply needs support for it to be realized and expressed.  Our curriculum is designed to support the natural self-development through self-expression in the arts.

Curriculum Content

Academic Skills & Cognitive Capacities

​We are interested in helping build the academic skills of our youth, but also in developing the cognitive capacities.  There are a number of cognitive capacities that we want to build in our students.  These can be equated to 21st Century Skills (https://k12.thoughtfullearning.com/FAQ/what-are-21st-century-skills)

We are particularly interested in creativity, moral development, and self-awareness.  

High Creativity: What is High Creativity?

Many of our most creative children are being labelled with attention deficit.  High creative children do not learn from outer directives, they must tap into their own inner curiosity.

Creativity is the goal of our activities as it is a highly valuable ability for living in an unpredictable world.

Creativity allows flexible, adaptive approaches to solutions, and even more it reflects an approach to life that is connected to the power of manifestation.  Creativity in the arts is the same skill set in creating the world and the life we want.  Imagination is powerful. Before we can create, we must imagine it is possible. Our goal is to build this ability in our Ambassadors of Kindness so that they can learn to create a better world and life for themselves.

When one can learn to use their creativity in this way they can master their destiny.

Moral Choices

Play is a powerful way for all children to make sense of their world, act out their inner conflicts and expand the limits of what is permissible in normal social interactions.  The CH believes play is a powerful teaching tool, particularly in the are of social and emotional learning.

Our kids are faced with a number of moral challenges.  In our neighborhood, there are many who are glamourizing gang life.  This can come out in play.  When it does, we need to correct them, but we can play characters who challenge their thinking.

We can create the role of a child, who represents innocence, or the role of a pastor of a church, or the role of a police officer.  Each of these will present the youth with a different perspective.  

We can also play the bad guy, especially in collaboration with another adult who will be able to challenge the storyline.  Playing out the possibilities is a powerful way to “try on” various life paths.

AWARENESS OF CHOICES AND THEIR CONSEQUENCE.

One approach that helps build academic abilities in reading and writing is to create story lines that the children help write.  This is a powerful way to access untold imagination, and help create rich and elaborate examples that are more limited in the fast pace nature of roleplay.

Because the adult is doing the writing, there is also more ability to create a rich background.  The child should give the details, and if they are able they can help with the writing.  But initially, the writing will be done by the adult, and the child with READ their story.  This practice in reading is important.  It will inspire an interest in reading, and as they get further into the story, they will be encouraged to write.

Therapeutic Theater

The Shop Stage is an extension of the Art Garage, and is intended to provide space for safe expression and resolution of challenges through dramatic theater.

The first play is set to be performed the summer of 2023 titled.

Our Choices Make The World Go Around

Building Character - Integrated SEL
Bringing in the 6 Core Themes

The way in which content based on the 6 core character strengths and virtues is presented should be both explicit and implicit.  That is we can make posters and discuss the themes, but also we can bring forward the themes in the activities, conversations and non-direct means to deepen the understanding and experience.  Our choice of words, topics of conversation, both between each other and with the children are all important in directing the attention to the theme of the month.

Interviews, Social Media Presence, Community Outreach

The themes should be very visible in our social media presence.  Part of this should be taken up by the Art Garage members themselves.  

Interviews have become a part of our Art Garage activity.  Members are asked about their opinions on topics as related to the themes of the month. 

Leadership Roles

Leadership is an important part of the Art Garage and CHN philosophical framework.  Our goal is to help people see their strengths and live an empowered and meaningful life.  Self-determination and self-direction are integrated into our philosophy.  Giving members of the Art Garage leadership roles helps them learn that they can be a leader in their own life.
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The role of Ambassador of Kindness is one that should be presented as a leadership role in our community and in the greater society at large.

Learning how I can spread more kindness in my community and being an example to others, both in the Art Garage and in the community is one that is fostered an nurtured through the activities presented.

Co-Created Activities

Activities should not be fully decided, like paint by numbers, by the adults.  Content should not be fixed, but should be co-created with the children in mind.  Nonetheless, some predictable structure helps the youth know what to expect each day.  These programs may become more formalized as the children build their own structure into the existing form.  For example, one of the youth may express interest in an area of movement, or nutrition, which can then lead to an initiative, or activity that extends out into the community or is formalized on a weekly basis. (i.e. youth yoga with Za’Kea).

Loose Structure

Rather than a fixed and rigid structure, the Community House content is based on activities and themes that have the ability to be responsive to what is going on in the lives and minds of our youth.  The activities provide a type of framework to give predictability, while leaving the actual details to be derived by the youth themselves.

This is the premise of all of the content presented at the Art Garage.

FROM OUR ORIGINAL 2019 POSITION STATEMENT

The Art Garage believes:

Children learn best when they are pursuing their own interests
Children need to explore to build confidence, motivation and self-awareness.
Children deserve to be happy.

Creativity is a means of moving towards self-actualization
Creativity enhances intrinsic motivation
Creativity is a necessary commodity in our world today

THE VIRTUES PROJECT DEFINITIONS:
Acceptance
Embracing life on its own terms. Acceptance allows us to bend without breaking in the face of tests.
Accountability
The willingness to take full responsibility for our choices.
Appreciation
Seeing the good in life. Freely expressing gratitude.
Assertiveness
Telling the truth about what is just, setting clear boundaries.
Awe
Reverence and wonder, deep respect for the source of life.
Beauty
A sense of wonder and reverence for the harmony, colour, and loveliness of the world. Calling on our creativity to add to the beauty in the world.
Caring
Giving tender attention to the people and things that matter to us. Listening with compassion, helping with kindness.
Certitude
An attitude of faith, confidence and certainty. Trusting that all will be well.
Charity
A giving heart, a generous way of viewing others and caring for their needs.
Cheerfulness
Seeing the bright side, looking for the good in whatever happens.
Cleanliness
Keeping our bodies, our thoughts and our spaces clean. An environment of order and beauty brings peace to our souls
Commitment
Caring deeply about a person, a goal or a belief. Willingness to give our all and keep our promises.
Compassion
Deep empathy for the suffering of others. Compassion flows freely from the heart when we let go of judgments and seek to understand.
Confidence
A sense of assurance that comes from having faith in ourselves and in life. Confidence allows us to trust that we have the strength to cope with whatever happens.
Consideration
Giving careful thought to the needs of others. Holding a decision in a contemplative and thoughtful way.
Contentment
The awareness of sufficiency, a sense that we have enough and we are enough. Appreciating the simple gifts of life.
Cooperation
Working together for a common goal, calling on the different gifts each of us has to offer.
Courage
Transforms fear into determination. Embracing life fully, without holding back, doing what must be done even when it is difficult or risky.
Courtesy
Treating others with kindness, tact and graciousness.
Creativity
The power of imagination. Being open to inspiration, which ignites our originality.
Decisiveness
Firmness of mind in taking a stand, reaching a conclusion, making a decision. It requires both courage and discernment.
Detachment
Experiencing our feelings without allowing them to control us. Stepping back and thoughtfully choosing how we will act rather than just reacting.
Determination
The power of intent that drives our dreams. Persevering until we meet our goals.
Devotion
Commitment to something we care about deeply. Wholehearted service to our life’s purpose.
Dignity
Honoring the worth of all people, including ourselves and treating everyone with respect.
Diligence
Doing what needs to be done with care, concentration and single-pointed attention, giving our absolute best.
Discernment
Applying the wisdom of our intuition to discover what is essential and true, with contemplative vigilance. Clarity of the soul
Empathy
The ability to put ourselves in another’s place, with compassion and understanding.
Endurance
Practicing perseverance and patience when obstacles arise hones our character and educates our souls. We welcome all that we are here to learn.
Enthusiasm
Being filled with spirit. Excitement about life and openness to the wonders each day holds. Acting wholeheartedly, with zeal and eagerness, holding nothing back.
Excellence
Giving our best to any task we do and any relationship we have.
Fairness
Seeking justice, giving each person their share, making sure that everyone’s needs are met.
Faith
A relationship of trust. Belief in the reality of Grace.
Faithfulness
Loyalty to our beliefs, regardless of what happens. Being true to the people we love.
Fidelity
Abiding by an agreement, treating it as a sacred covenant. Complete faithfulness in our relationships.
Flexibility
The ability to adapt and change amid the fluctuating circumstances of life. Going with the flow.
Forbearance
Tolerating hardship with good grace. Not allowing the trials of life to steal our joy.
Forgiveness
Overlooking mistakes, and being willing to move forward with a clean slate. Forgiving others frees us from resentment. Forgiving ourselves is part of positive change.
Fortitude
Strength of character. The will to endure no matter what happens, with courage and patience.
Friendliness
A spiritual essential. Reaching out to others with warmth and caring. The willingness to be an intimate companion.
Generosity
Giving fully, sharing freely. Trust that there is plenty for everyone.
Gentleness
Moving wisely, touching softly, speaking quietly and thinking kindly.
Grace
Openness to the bounties of life, trusting that we are held in God’s love through all circumstances. Reflecting gentleness and beauty in the way we act, speak and move.
Gratitude
Freely expressing thankfulness and appreciation to others and for the gifts of life.
Helpfulness
Doing useful things that make a difference to others. Taking time for thoughtfulness.
Honesty
Being truthful, sincere, open, and genuine. The confidence to be ourselves.
Honor
Living with a sense of respect for what we know is right. Living up to the virtues of our character. Keeping our agreements with integrity.
Hope
Looking to the future with trust and faith. Optimism in the face of adversity.
Humanity
Having an attitude of caring and mercy to all people.
Humility
Being open to every lesson life brings, trusting that our mistakes are often our best teachers. Being thankful for our gifts instead of boastful.
Idealism
Caring about what is right and meaningful in life. Daring to have big dreams and then acting as if they are possible.
Independence
Self-reliance. Making our own choices confidently without undue influence from others. Perceiving the truth, with trust in our own discernment.
Initiative
Daring to be original. Using creativity to bring something new into the world.
Integrity
Standing on moral high ground. Keeping faith with our ideals and our agreements.
Joyfulness
An inner wellspring of peace and happiness. Enjoying the richness of life. Finding humor, even in the midst of hard times.
Justice
Being fair in all we do. Making amends when we have hurt or wronged others. Protecting everyone’s rights, including our own.
Kindness
Showing compassion. Giving tender attention in ways that brings others happiness.
Love
The connection between one heart and another. Attraction, affection and caring for a person, a place, an idea, and for life itself.
Loyalty
Unwavering faithfulness and commitment to people and ideas we care about, through good times and bad.
Mercy
Blessing others with our compassion and forgiveness. Extending our tenderness beyond what is just or deserved
Mindfulness
Living reflectively and meaningfully, with conscious awareness of our actions, our words and our thoughts.
Moderation
Being content with enough. Using self-discipline to create balance in our lives and to keep from overdoing. Healthy stewardship of our time and resources.
Modesty
Self-respect and quiet confidence. Accepting praise with humility and gratitude. A sense of respectful privacy about our bodies.
Nobility
Having high moral standards. Doing the right thing. Keeping faith with our true value as spiritual beings.
Obedience
Following what we know is right. Compliance with the law. Abiding by our deepest integrity and conquering our misplaced passions
Openness
Willingness to consider new ideas. Listening to others with humility and sincerity. Being receptive to the blessings and surprises of life.
Optimism
A positive, cheerful outlook. Nothing can destroy our hope.
Orderliness
Creating an environment of peace and order. Planning step by step instead of going in circles.
Patience
Waiting peacefully. Quiet hope and faith that things will turn out right.
Peacefulness
Inner calm and tranquility. Giving up the love of power for the power of love. Resolving conflict in a just and gentle way.
Perceptiveness
Clarity of insight. Understanding that is intuitive, discerning and accurate.
Perseverance
Staying the course for however long it takes. Steadfastness and persistence in pursuing our goals.
Prayerfulness
A relationship of faith and gratitude with a power and presence greater than ourselves. A conversation with God.
Purity
A process of freeing ourselves day by day from influences and attachments that keep us from being true to ourselves and to what we know is right.
Purposefulness
Awareness of the meaningfulness of our lives. Living by a clear vision and focusing our energy on the goal before us.
Reliability
Being dependable. Being a promise keeper. Taking responsibility with trustworthiness.
Resilience
The strength of spirit to recover from adversity. Overcoming obstacles by tapping into a deep well of faith and endurance.
Respect
An attitude of honoring oneself and others through our words and actions. Treating every person with dignity and courtesy.
Responsibility
The willingness to be accountable for our choices and also for our mistakes. Taking on what is ours to do with strength and reliability.
Reverence
An awareness of the sacredness of life. Living with wonder and faith. Having a routine of reflection.
Righteousness
Living by a code of spiritual rectitude. Impeccable integrity to what we know is right. Calling ourselves gently back when we go off track.
Sacrifice
The willingness to give up what is important to us for what we know is more important. Giving our all for our beliefs. Making our life a sacred offering.
Self-Discipline
The self-control to do only what we truly choose to do, without being blown off course by our desires. Establishing healthy and ennobling habits.
Serenity
Tranquility of spirit, with trust and faith that all will be well. Peacefulness in the midst of trials.
Service
Doing helpful things that make a difference to others. Investing excellence in all we do. The contribution we make is what we will receive in life.
Simplicity
Content with the basic gifts of life, we let go of excess, clutter, and complexity. We savor the moment.
Sincerity
Being open and genuine. Our words and actions reflect a truthful heart.
Steadfastness
Being steady, persevering and dependable. Having the strength to remain true to our purpose in spite of obstacles.
Strength
The inner power to withstand whatever comes. Endurance in the midst of tests.
Tact
Telling the truth kindly. Thinking before we speak, aware of how deeply our words affect others. Discerning what to say, when it is timely to say it, and what is better left unsaid.
Thankfulness
An attitude of gratitude for living, learning, loving and being. Generosity in expressing appreciation. Focusing on the blessings in our lives.
Thoughtfulness
Kindness and consideration guided by empathy brightens others lives. Being contemplative and discerning.
Tolerance
Being open to differences. Refraining from judgments. Patience and forgiveness with others and ourselves. Accepting things that we wish were different with humor and grace.
Trust
Having faith. Positive expectation that all will be well. Having confidence that the right thing will come about without trying to control it or make it happen. Being sure, in the depths of our being, that there is some gift or learning in everything that happens.
Trustworthiness
Being worthy of the trust others place in us. When we give our word, we stand by it. Keeping our agreements faithfully.
Truthfulness
Truth is the bedrock of integrity on which we build all our other virtues. An ongoing commitment to live by what is most real and authentic in our own nature. Honesty in all our dealings.
Understanding
Being insightful in our perceptions of ideas and feelings. Listening with compassion and accuracy to others’ feelings.
Unity
Inclusiveness. Finding common ground in our diversity. Seeking peace in all circumstances.
Wisdom
Having a discerning mind, based on experience and mindfulness. Making wise decisions based on our deepest intuition.
Wonder
Being open to the beauty and mysteries of life. Our soul’s appreciation for what is precious and inspiring.
Zeal
Fervent enthusiasm for what we believe to be important. Living by a strong sense of the value of life and faith.

Get On The Wall

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Be An Ambassador of Kindness

What is an Ambassador of Kindness?  It is someone who has character and shows it in the world.  Come fill out your own Kindness Contract and discover what your best qualities are.  Then start to live them in the world.  The world needs more kindness.  Join us in the effort to make the world a better place.

The Community House Network is proud to announce that
​March 6th is
Community Hero Day!

We want to honor our neighborhood hero Eugene "Papa" Clark, who passed away earlier this year.  

He made a difference in the world and in our Community.

The Community House honors his memory through the creation of the Eugene Clark Community Hero award.  This will be awarded annually to a member of our community who has made a difference in our neighborhood.

The award was issued post-humously to his wife and grandchildren (pictured left).  We love you Grandpa Gene!