YOUTH MIND! DEVELOPING PROJECTS THAT HELP CHILDREN USE THEIR INNER-VOICE TO GUIDE THEM.

     THIS GROUP IS DEDICATED TO BRINGING TOGETHER A DISPARATE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS FROM THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING, TO CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, AND OTHER CONCERNED PARTIES, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING PROJECTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT AND COME TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THEIR INNER-VOICE PLAYS IN THEIR LIFE. THE INTENTION OF THIS GROUP IS FOR INTERESTED PARTIES, TO JOIN TOGETHER IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES WHICH WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE ABOVE OBJECTIVE.

     IT WILL ALSO  BE A FORUM FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SHARE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE IN THIS FIELD SO THAT OTHERS MAY ACCESS CURRENTLY EXISTING PROGRAMS.

I HAVE WORKED IN URBAN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR 24 YEARS AND HAVE SERVED AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR THE PAST 14, WORKING WITH SEVERELY EMOTIONALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN FROM THE AGES OF FOUR TO 14.  THIS POPULATION INCLUDES CHILDREN WITH PERVASIVE PERSONALITY DISORDERS, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, AS WELL AS THE MULTIPLY HANDICAPPED.

DURING THIS TIME, OUR SCHOOL HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF CREATING BEHAVIORAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORTS THAT NURTURE AND DRIVE OUR STUDENTS TO REACH LEVELS OF STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POPULATION WE SERVE.

WHILE WORKING WITH THIS POPULATION, I FELT THAT CHILDREN WOULD BENEFIT FROM MAZES AS A MEANS FOR THEM TO GET RELAXED ENOUGH, TO THE POINT WHERE, THEY WERE OPEN TO HEARING THEIR INNER-VOICE.  AS I RESEARCHED THIS IDEA, I FOUND THAT EDUCATORS WERE ALREADY USING FINGERBOARD MAZES IN THEIR CLASSES TO HELP STUDENTS RELAX AND GET CALMED.  THEREFORE, IT HAS BEEN MY DESIRE TO CONSTRUCT FREE FLOWING WALKWAYS IN SCHOOLS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND PARKS, THAT WOULD BE LINER AND GEOMETRIC, COLORFUL WALKWAYS THAT CHILDREN COULD INTERACT WITH TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR INNER-VOICE.  

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONSTRUCT ONE OF THESE WALKWAYS.  THEREFORE, I AM INTERESTED IN GATHERING INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD HELP ME ACHIEVE THIS GOAL IN WHATEVER WAY THEY COULD HELP.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS, OR WAYS IN WHICH WE COULD ACCOMPLISH THIS ENDEAVOR.