GETTING STARTED

As the schedule for each session came together, time was included for checkins, repetitions, and reinforcement of the content, as well as listening, reflecting, and adjusting. Each series was designed as a three-session program: What is Trauma?, Why the Arts?, Digging Deeper in the Arts, and Building Resilience. In each session, there were rituals, reminders, and routines that strengthened the relationships between facilitators and participants. AEN provided materials, including templates for activities, copies of articles, and links to videos and there were followup activities, reflections and preparatory homework prompts for the next sessions. And, after each session, there were weekby-week in-depth reflection and review sessions for the facilitators.

“Participants who completed the post surveys identified many ways in which the trainings have impacted them personally and professionally. …(M)any participants have already implemented many things that they learned in the trainings with the communities they work with.”

(Dr. Deborah E. Ward, Researcher)

In January –February 2020, the first sessions were offered in person to 25 teachers. Due to the pandemic closures, all subsequent sessions from 2020 – 2022 were offered online, and approximately 300 art teachers, school administrators, support services personnel, teaching artists, youth development leaders, and community service providers in Newark NJ, throughout New Jersey, in Miami. FL, and Anaheim CA. Again, the core planning group maintained the integrity of the curriculum and goals for the training sessions, while thoughtfully responding to disparate locations, different audiences, changing schedules and class times, and the move to an online format.

Whether participants were in person for fifteen hours or online for six and a half hours, the core of the curriculum was consistent, and survey data revealed that the trainings, regardless of the format, were very impactful to participants, who reported:

�� increased knowledge about trauma and how trauma impacts youth,

�� more confidence in working with communities impacted by trauma, and

�� skills and new strategies to work with communities impacted by trauma.

In-person Training at Newark’s Arts High School (2020)

The first series was rolled out on three Saturdays: January 25, February 1, and February 8, 2020, from 9 am – 3 pm at Newark Arts High School. Twenty school-based arts educators and administrators, and other communitybased teaching artists participated. At each in-person session, Social Work graduate students were on hand if someone felt triggered. In addition, music and mindfulness programs were available on iPads throughout the room, and breakfast, lunch, and beverages were provided each day for the care and nurturing of the participants and facilitators.

“Trauma 101”, the first session provided a basic introduction to 1) What is trauma? What is the impact of trauma on people? How does trauma manifest in behaviors?, and 2) Why the arts? What do the arts bring? What are the benefits and impacts of arts education?

As with every session, people were welcomed and encouraged to introduce themselves. There was a review of the Community Agreements, reminding participants that this would be a brave zone and confidential space. Participants were expected to be active listeners, demonstrate respect, share at their level, share the airspace, be