Uplifting the Whole Child
Operation Shoestring’s afterschool program, Project Rise, has resumed this spring semester! We can’t wait to see how the quality academic tutorials, STEM education, arts programming, and innovative activities provided in Project Rise will help empower, nurture, and support the scores of children and families within our neighborhoods.
Through all of these activities runs a deep commitment to embracing all aspects of a child, providing emotional support, and addressing the traumas that our students often encounter in their day, particularly after two years of a pandemic. Part of this process of uplifting and affirming kids in our community is partnering with organizations to provide mental health programming to classes and small groups of kids at Project Rise.
“Because of COVID-19, more people are dealing with anxiety. It’s essential to work with not just the child, but with all family members. It’s about identifying what their needs are and what underlying causes exist ” explained one of our partner therapists. She thinks that it’s important to bring “all supports to the table” in order to address a child’s mental health. “That way, they’re making progress in not just their home, but in their schools and in their community.” That wraparound approach is exactly what we seek to do every day at Operation Shoestring, and is at the heart of our mission.
This semester, our partners and volunteers like UMMC psychiatrist and licensed art therapist Dr. Susan Anand provide support to not only the children and families in our neighborhoods, but our staff as well.
“Prior to the children returning to the afterschool program, I met with the Shoestring staff and used that time to show them how art-making can provide a path to self-discovery,” says Dr. Anand. “We did some art therapy activities together, and I hope to continue on with the staff to explore ways that therapeutic art activities can contribute to the children’s overall growth and development—especially their emotional development.”
She says that resilience can actually be taught through art programs like the ones held at our afterschool program Project Rise, and that creative activities can help children envision themselves as empowered individuals.
Project Rise is more than just a safe place for kids to learn—it’s a place for kids to heal. And when one child in our neighborhood begins to heal, we all begin to heal in our city.
By teaching children and inspiring families in Jackson, we improve all our lives.
We all rise together.