Challenges of Youth Inland Agency

The Inland Agency Challenges of Youth Collaborative with our subcontractors and partners reached 765 of the community’s youth through our various interventions this past year.  One of the highlights of the year was watching the students’ creative talents emerge through our “A Sense of Peace” program. 

Research has strongly indicated that youth who have the opportunity to participate in arts programs are far less likely to engage in risk behaviors including teen pregnancy, substance abuse and violence, are more likely to remain in school and also have better test scores than those not participating in art programs.  The results are across the board, for low-income as well as medium and high income youth.

Recognizing the potential to make a positive connection with youth through art, Inland Agency began “A Sense of Peace” in 2006 through a partnership with art educators Michele Worth and Sarah Slocum, who developed and teach the program.  A Sense of Peace teaches youth to communicate thoughts of peace through the creation of sculptural art forms in a way that engages the five senses and reflects cultural diversity.

The middle school students from Citrus Hills Intermediate School in Corona who participated in the program through the Community Challenge Grant had their first public exhibition at Riverside Community Arts Association Gallery in the spring of 2007. (more)