behavioral skills and self confidence through the arts

Foster Burton III has changed his letters from "HAI" to "NYPD." Foster, 22, was a Peer Educator with HAI from 2000 to 2004, acting and leading workshops for Peace by Peace. He first learned about HAI when facilitator Danny Carlton brought a series of HAI violence prevention workshops to his school, the Professional Performing Arts High School in Manhattan. He participated in a workshop and knew right away he wanted to become a Peer Educator. Foster joined the New York Police Department in January 2005 and has found his Peer Education experience a valuable asset. "Being a Peer Educator helped me in being confident. I learned how to communicate with the public and with youth. I am able to relate to youth now, as a cop. My experience with HAI has helped me with my work with different communities. Being a Peer Educator is a great learning experience."

Ashley Taylor, youth cast member of Heart & Mind. Photo: Lucy Skeen

HAI’s Prevention Education Program uses theater arts to confront health and social problems. Conducted in schools, detention centers, community centers and other youth venues, performances and workshops physically, intellectually and emotionally engage audiences, challenging individuals to assess and solve difficult issues independently. Vendor contracts with the NYC Dept. of Education have expanded the program’s scope.

In performances and workshops, the role of youths working as peer educators is crucial. These youths inspire their peers, model positive behavior and naturally relate to their audiences, teenager to teenager. In addition to their dynamic performances, the peer educators’ active participation in the writing process adds authenticity and energy to all of HAI’s productions.

Heart & Mind Finds Soul - HAI's newest youth theater project, Heart & Mind, is almost ready to debut in New York City schools. In collaboration with HAI, acclaimed director and composer Elizabeth Swados has assembled a talented young cast to write and perform a musical production to raise awareness and confront the many misconceptions about mental illness among youth. Cast members are enthusiastic about the experience of developing the production. Danny Molina, 17, hopes Heart & Mind will inspire teens to acknowledge emotional issues: "We're talking about issues that teens deal with every day. It's great that we're able to be in a show that can help somebody and entertain them." Ashley Taylor, 19, loves being in a tight-knit cast: "These people are my family!" Katherine Mendoza, 17, says of the early script, "It's in our own words; we write this stuff." Christine Murray, 15, sums up the powerful message of Heart & Mind: "It's not cool to judge just because someone is acting in a certain way. You don't know the whole story." Ms. Swados is setting the cast’s words to music now, and performances will commence in the spring.

What’s New in Prevention Education?

HAI workshops for homeless families began this fall in five New York City temporary housing sites. Through a new contract with the New York City Department of Homeless Services, HAI has begun life skills and arts workshops with Auburn Family Center, Linden Family Residence, Flatlands Family Residence, Jamaica Family Residence, and LIFE Family Center. With professional Actor / Facilitators implementing HAI's proven role-play techniques, life skills workshops cover such crucial topics as money management, job readiness, and violence prevention. Arts workshops, led by veteran HAI artists / workshop leaders, also began in September, with hands-on creative opportunities for adults and children of all ages. Also part of the service package are performances of HAI's signature Prevention Education theater works, Peace by Peace and Respect, as well as tickets to cultural events and HAI's Holiday Party.

“Refreshing,” “talented,” “hopeful,” “professional,” “inspirational,” “incredible” and “amazing.” These are just a few of the opinions of school-based Substance Abuse Prevention & Intervention Specialists (SAPIS) who attended HAI's first Staff Development Workshop series. These workshops provided SAPIS with role-play strategies and theater techniques to aid them in discussions with their students about important, often life-saving topics such as abstinence, STDs, HIV/AIDS, and the link between substance abuse and risky sexual behavior. In written evaluations, 74% of the 492 SAPIS respondents rated their overall workshop experience as "Excellent." When asked if the training was helpful, one Region 6 SAPIS summed it up best by stating, "Yes. It reminded me of the fundamental aspects of counseling we should follow, and sometimes forget in dealing with the day-to-day things."