It might be hard to imagine why this is so special for the children. Living in poverty in an urban city causes acute stress, especially for kids. Most of these children are living in a culture that is different from thier parents and themselves. They have a very different social and religious background and upbringing. Most of these families are poor, having moved here for a better life from Turkey, Morocco and other African and Middle Eastern Countires. As the children grow up, they are usually the translators of the parents and the caretakers of younger siblings. These children often do poorly in school as most schools are not designed to accomodate different learning styles and needs. As they perform poorly, this adds more stress and the need to fit in and belong at school grows - usually, this translates to devient behaviour.

Having the art showcase is a way to build the self esteem of the students. They are being recognized, even singled out for something good. This builds confidence and adds th thier sense of worth. It can motivate them to more positive behavior in thier search for belonging. The whole process promotes character development, leadership skills in a way that the students can relate and identify with on a deep level. It encourages the mentors who work with them to pursue them in relationship, which deepens trust. The proess also gives them tools to help them cope better with the stress they have so that they can perform better in school. 

As we continue to craft and develop our methodology, the stories and lives of these families stay in the forefront of our minds. Regardless of where you live (California, Amsterdam, Cape Town) we are entering a stage in society where local problems are now global problems - we are all in this together and we need to figure a way to live with each other.