Art Journaling Group

THEN

The Art Journaling Group was a pilot project in August 2020 when youth were experiencing the effects of a COVID summer; they were bored, had nothing to do, could not go anywhere and be with their friends, and mental health concerns were becoming present in our youth. The inaugural Art Journaling Group was funded by the Telus Friendly Future Fund and was a 6-week curriculum-based program that was condensed into three weeks and offered in a virtual setting. At the end of this pilot project we had measurable decreases of distress in our youth participants and knew we had something worth developing further. 

NOW
We are an in-person 8-week after-school program.  Each week is a themed conversation around topics like consent, boundaries, what do healthy relationships look like, substance use/abuse and many other important topics of conversation for our youth to explore together guided by a facilitator. Each topic is paired with a corresponding art project that complements the topic. 

Thanks in part to the generous sponsorship of Opus Art Supplies, ACCESS provides all the art supplies.  The experienced facilitators guide the conversation within respectful boundaries, but allow youth to make supportive connections while creating art together.

Youth benefit from the process and experience of journaling, the connection to our program facilitators, the meditative art experience, and the opportunity to engage with peers in conversations that matter.