GlassBook Project
College students make books out of glass. The topic is in understanding the deep impact of psychological trauma. The books address self-inflicted violence, suicide, eating disorders, addiction, depression, violence, etc. Survivor-informed and created by students, the Project provides a safe way for stories to be told and heard –lessening discrimination/stigma.
About You
Section 1: About You
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Rutgers University-Newark
Organization Website
Organization Phone
973-353-5600
Organization Address
110 Warren Street, Newark, NJ 07201
Organization Country
United States
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Your idea
Name Your Project
GlassBook Project
Country your work focuses on
United States
Describe Your Idea
College students make books out of glass. The topic is in understanding the deep impact of psychological trauma. The books address self-inflicted violence, suicide, eating disorders, addiction, depression, violence, etc. Survivor-informed and created by students, the Project provides a safe way for stories to be told and heard –lessening discrimination/stigma.
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
The GlassBook Project brings together numerous communities to facilitate social change for survivors of violence and trauma through the use of student-created glass books. While college students have the challenge of researching and learning about responses to trauma, they also connect with real people in the community who have used coping strategies like dissociation, self injury and substance abuse to survive the emotional pain. The books are made of glass, which is unique in and of itself – some taking a traditional forum with a binding, and some being much more abstract in communicating the story through a visual presentation. Transformation and changed understanding around these often misunderstood behaviors is remarkable. After experiencing the exhibit, one mental health leader in Illinois remarked, “In 20 years of doing this work, I never understood self-injury, but I do now.” Four state departments of mental health have formally asked for the project to be replicated in their state, with dozens of others inquiring. Universities also realize how the project brings the students out into the community and the community into the classroom. In only six months, the Project received federal support to develop a national adaptable curriculum, so that every state could participate – a clear sign that mental health leaders acknowledge the Projects potential. The Project bridges generations, cultures and communities around the experiences of survivors and how they respond to traumatic experiences. The Project nurtures social change by lessening stigma and discrimination, while building toward true social inclusion for survivors.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
I have been profoundly impacted from having survivors share their personal stories and I hold these interactions as sacred. My students are impacted because I challenge them with difficult topics. One student wrote the about the experience, “Nick has offered me, along with the rest of my classmates, an opportunity to grow, learn and impact our society and the world in a way that I just never could have predicted. His support and encouragement has been one of the most excellent things I have been privileged enough to know as a student.” My department has been impacted because it opens up collaborative engagement with communities rather than a traditional bringing art to the public approach. My university-wide colleagues are impacted because the discussion of trauma reaches across so many research areas and this has led to broad programming and collaboration between departments. The impact on providers is in knowing more about those they care for because the Project allows them to hear the voices in a non-lecturing way and promotes a trauma-informed care approach. The Project impacts the States because it’s an alternative way of reaching the public to destigmatize mental illness. If I have impacted survivors it is because I listen and interact with them as they are, equals. The books themselves are “successful” because they are vessels through which survivor stories flow and they honor an individuals’ experience. We know that relationships profoundly change the healing for an individual.
Problem
Our society doesn’t understand psychological trauma and how some people cope with these difficult experiences. Some of these responses include: violence, addiction, suicide, eating disorders, multiplicity and dissociation, self-inflicted violence, and more. Indeed, many caregivers will look to stop these behaviors without addressing the original trauma. This “treatment” does not lead to true healing, and you can’t take away someone’s coping without replacing it with something else. There exist great prejudices, stigma, and alienation against individuals who have mental health concerns. Because of these misunderstandings and stereotypes victims are frequently blamed, whereas what is needed is more caring and supportive local communities.
Actions
Our core Project team is made up of members working at the top of their field and in a range of expertise, we are academics in art history and criminal justice, an artist, survivor-consultant/trainers, and trauma experts. We also have the administrative support resources of both Witness Justice and Rutgers University, and the involvement of former students. Our team has developed an adaptable curriculum and plan so the Project can go to every State in the country. We have four-States that have signed letters of commitment to implement the Project. We actively make presentations at conferences, exhibitions, interviews with the media and funding proposals. We have an exciting brand identity and promotional material including brochure, video and website. Recently our Project was featured at the Voice Awards, a star-studded award ceremony in Hollywood at the Paramount Theater, and this exposure has helped us establish great contacts with writers/producers/actors.
Results
The vision of the GlassBook Project is hundreds of books made of glass representing every State in the country, and beyond. States will determine their own topics and when complete the final collection will come together for traveling exhibitions and presentations. The expected result is both educational awareness and a spectacular experience for viewers to encounter. Each State commits to exhibiting their collection in at least six venues. The executive director from one State summarized his commitment; “The Glass Books project presents the unique opportunity for collaboration among providers, consumers and students...This dialogue enables those who have experienced trauma to add their voice to efforts to inform others...this project will not only raise awareness of the nature and impact of trauma, but will more fully inform the community about mental health and trauma-informed care. Additionally, the strong media potential of such a unique project will significantly contribute to project goals.”
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
A cornerstone of our Project is about building meaningful and deep relationships and over the next three years this will be necessary for success. For the remainder of 2009 and the spring of 2010 we will reach out to the States, secure funding with them and identify universities and respective professors that will implement this in their class. After being identified we will bring all the artist/professors and state administrators to Rutgers University-Newark for a two-day meeting along with the core Project team. In this context we will have presentations of the core issues and in-depth discussions about how to facilitate the Project. During this first year we will also meet with and identify major institutions that will plan the GlassBook Project for exhibitions. The plan for year two, 2010-2011, will be the successful implementation and creation of new books. Exhibitions, conferences and meetings will occur in at least six locations instate. During this year the Project partners will continue to secure funding for exhibiting the entire collection. In the third year, 2011-2012, the final collection will come together for traveling exhibitions on a national and international scale. This year and beyond will involve heavy media exposure and the targeting of specific conferences and meetings where real social awareness and change in systems can be strategized.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
While the Project does not require a great deal of funding, I feel that it is essential to maintain the integrity and spirit of the project. The topics have to be around responses to psychological trauma that are often misunderstood. The books must be made of glass. Diversion from this would make the project something different. It has been challenging to discuss the Project with some leaders as they wanted to frame this more as an art therapy project – which it is not. Clearly defining the project and project goals are is essential to the project’s overall success in achieving social change. Participation by survivors, students, universities, state departments of mental health and the community are all essential to the Project’s success, so communicating effectively with each audience is also important.
How many people will your project serve annually?
More than 10,000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$1000 - 4000
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for less than a year
In what country?
United States
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Rutgers University-Newark and Witness Justice
How long has this organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
Yes
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Because the GlassBook Project is intended to build understanding around mental health issues, we want to accomplish is transformation in state mental health systems. If we begin with the state departments of mental health supporting this effort and committing to a shifted perspective on behaviors that are coping skills, then we also lessen the possibility that providers around the country will take a punitive response that might do more harm than good with a survivor. States are asked to provide at least six public opportunities for a presentation and exhibition of the books. With this commitment, the glass book collections have assured community exposure. Additionally, we have been working with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has been supportive of the project with invitations to major federal conferences, exhibition at the federal office building in Rockville, MD and a featured exhibition at the star-studded Voice Awards in Hollywood.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
There are three primary actions that need to happen for the GlassBook Project to fulfill its potential in transforming mental health throughout the United States:
1. Expand Community Connections: Community partners in each state that are passionate about lessening stigma and discrimination are essential to the success of the Project. The trauma response topics need to emerge from the community and embrace the culture of the community. These community connections include survivors, state mental health consumer and peer networks, state departments of mental health, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and more.
2. Obtain Financial Support: A reality in wanting to take this nationally, the GlassBook Project requires additional funding to support the technical assistance, marketing and coordination of the expansion. While we have an adaptable curriculum available, we want to be able to provide meaningful support to those who replicate the Project, and financial support will enable us to do this effectively.
3. Involve Key Constituents: In an effort to raise awareness of this effort, we believe including key constituents like legislators and celebrities will be important. Whether they participate in the classroom, come to a presentation or share their own stories of survival with a new class, the involvement of public figures will generate interest and help to achieve our goal for expansion.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
The defining moment for me came when I saw a bucket of glass shards in a glass arts studio and it flashed me back to trauma survivor stories that I had recently heard. In January 09’ I attended a keynote speech where a survivor/national expert talked about the prevalence of early childhood abuse and how self inflicted violence is a common way that people cope with this psychological trauma. I learned about how this topic is one of the most taboo in our society and yet the practice is more prevalent than we know. I learned that in the case of self inflicted violence it is about survival for oneself, feeling something on the outside, saying that “I’m still alive,” whereas the pain inside is unbearable. Self inflicted violence is frequently misunderstood by caregivers and in their rush to stop the behavior restraint and seclusion is commonly used and this frequently has the affect of retraumatizing individuals. The innovation of the “GlassBook Project” came after my initial class completed their books and I could see the positive affect it had on survivors and those with mental health concerns. Bringing many different communities together in a way that is untraditional to bring about understanding is consistent with my vision as an artist. The books, as mysterious objects, capture people’s attention and bring them to the issues without them being aware of it.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
Mr. Nick Kline is an acclaimed artist/photographer whose work has been exhibited in museums and galleries internationally. An Instructor at Rutgers University-Newark, Department of Arts, Culture and Media, Mr. Kline introduced the Project in a book arts class he was teaching. His personal work explores human natures often conflicted space between lived-inner experience and outer presentations of the self, the mystery of relationships, communities, groups, and collections, in a surreal sense. Mr. Kline’s work has been published in numerous periodicals and his exhibits have been reviewed in The New York Times, Out NY, The New Yorker, and Lapiz Magazine, among others. In 2008, Mr. Kline presented a solo exhibit at the UNO Art Space in Stuttgart, Germany, and his work appears in many private and public collections including the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mr. Kline is the conceptual creator and contributes to strategic planning for the GlassBook Project.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Friend or family member
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
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 | 187 weeks ago Sarah Mintz updated this Competition Entry. |
| 187 weeks ago Sarah Mintz updated this Competition Entry. |
| 187 weeks ago Sarah Mintz updated this Competition Entry. |
| 187 weeks ago Nick Kline submitted this idea. |
