Context
To give artistic students an avenue to express their thoughts about current social issues important to them. Dr. Anderson posted on flyers around the school an opportunity to participate in a music project where they can create music responding to issues important to them. The student Leadership group was created to give students more buy in and control of student activities. UMADAOPFC staff had already been involved in school activities, including the Paragon, so we were asked to integrate behavioral health prevention activities into the leadership group. The group has been asked to provide the students with two social activities and one academic activity every nine weeks. This is the first year of the group. After the group finished their first album, some of the students were interested in continuing meet and work together creatively. Dr. Anderson, who grew up in UMADAOPFC programming, asked if UMADAOPFC could help. We provided students with a summer program where they learned more about social issues in the morning and worked on creative projects in the afternoon. The issues are pretty broad, including human trafficking, Mental Health, violence, and bullying. We are working creatively to combine the efforts of both groups, so that they strongly complement each other’s’ efforts. We understand that this is experimental and will be a learning process for everyone involved. While the Paragon group can create music that reaches the larger community, the Student Leadership group will have a greater impact on Fort Hayes students, since its mission is to provide ongoing activities for the student body.
Youth Characteristics and Recruitment
Performing artists interested in both creating and performing positive music and student leaders interested on creating and implementing activities for the student body. The Leadership group is made of students that are members of the Senior Cabinet, National Honor Society officers, and Student Activity Council who are interested in the student Leadership Class. For the Paragon they need to commit to the practice and performance schedule and be willing to learn about social/ behavioral health issues that affect them. Some of the Paragon students are sought out because of their previous involvement in school activities, others respond to flyers posted throughout the school. The Student Leadership Group recruits from the National Honor Society, Student Activities Committee, and the Senior Cabinet. Exposure to creative activities that will enhance their careers in music and the ability to have control of student activities and implement ideas that they are interested in.
Collective Participation
15 students for the Paragon and 12 are involved in the Student leadership group. Two students are members of both groups. Both groups meet roughly once a week, depending on the school’s schedule. We have had issues with the Student Leadership group, since the youth led component of the group meets on Mondays, and three of the groups have already been missed because of school holidays and abbreviated schedules for class meetings. The Paragon group varies depending on where they are on their projects, but normally at least for a few hours. The leadership group meets on Monday’s for a 40 minute class. The Paragon usually has around 10 students attend each meeting and the Student Leadership group has 12.This group of Paragon students started within the first month of the school year, but a few have started within the last month. The Leadership group started at the beginning of the school year but UMADAOPFC did not start working with them until the second week in October. The Teachers take a attendance for the Leadership group. Unfortunately, we have not been consistent on tracking attendance for the Paragon group this fall. However, we will make sure we track attendance consistently going forward.
Adult Involvement
Dr. Anderson and Mr. Comedy for the Paragon and Mr. Judd, Mr. Comedy, Ms. Wilson, Mr. Calloway for the Student Leadership Group are the adult leaders. Dr. Anderson, Mr. Calloway, and Mr. Comedy have been involved in Youth Led programs through UMADAOPFC. Mr. Calloway worked with Ohio MHAS statewide Youth Led group through Drug Free Action Alliance a few years ago. Mr. Judd and Ms. Wilson are responsible for the three student activities per nine weeks. Craig Comedy and Lawrence Calloway are responsible for training students about Behavioral Health issues that they want to address through their Leadership activities or in their music and assisting them with their youth led activities. Dr. Anderson is responsible for the music production and setting up the performance venues. Parents need to agree to the schedule of group activities and provide transportation for the child to and from the school on evenings and weekends. Parents need to participate in parent meetings as well. UMADAOPFC provides transportation to events that occur off of school grounds. UMADAOPFC and Fort Hayes provides staffing and financial resources in addition to ADAMH Youth led funding.
Group Structure
Food is provided for off campus events or weekend meetings and events. The biggest incentive is their ability to create their own music and/or student activities. They also enjoy the field trips and ability to perform in front of many groups. The students who create music decide what their lyrics will be, as long as it meets the programs requirements. The Leadership group makes decisions within the boundaries of what they school can allow. Decisions are made through group discussion facilitated by a student and/or adult leader. Mr. Judd and Ms. Wilson have both taught in the school for over eight years and have worked with students on student activities. However, this is the first year the school has had the leadership class. Mr. Comedy and Mr. Calloway began working with the leadership group after they were already involved in creating student activities, so we began our relationship by assisting them with their fall formal, showing them that we were willing to follow their lead on activities, and then began learning what their social interests were through the “Matters that Matters to Me” document. Dr. Anderson is a vice principal at Fort Hayes and started the Paragon group with the students and Mr. Comedy has assisted every group since the inception as well. Youth in both groups have the ability to create music or activities that they are interested in, as long as it fits in the groups and schools guidelines, and can be accomplished with available resources. The Youth Leadership Group has a budget for school activities and they make decisions on how they will spend the money on approved activities in consultation with Ms. Wilson and Mr. Judd. UMADAOPFC provides resources for Behavioral Health messaging for the Student Leadership Group. The Paragon Group has access to music equipment and professional consultants to help them make their music.
Group Climate
[Group resiliency] is more difficult for the Paragon Group, because many of the students have competing commitments throughout the school year. Adult leaders need to be understanding and supportive of their other activities. In addition, performing arts groups are competitive so adult leaders need to make sure students know that everyone cannot perform beyond their abilities and that different students will e featured at different times. We have an “on the table” process where students and leaders sit together in a circle and talk through issues as they arise in the groups. First by showing them that previous groups were able to accomplish their goals, despite difficulties and setbacks. It is also important to celebrate successes along the way. The Leadership Group celebrates every activity they create for the students. The Paragon group acknowledges each building block students produce and makes sure they students understand that some of the things they produce that they think are small contributions, are actually integral pieces to their final product. Students start off with a one-line theme for their music and hum the rest of the lyrics. By starting off with small goals that lead to larger ones. This very important, especially for students that are being involved in leadership activities for the first time. Probably the most important belief is that they can affect change and that they “matter.” Many of the youth have struggled with different traumatic events, and have felt very marginalized as young people, so even though some of them do well in school, their involvement in one of the groups is the first time their thoughts and ideas have been allowed to steer their activities.