Healing Therapy Through Art MONARCH SCHOOL

(Published August, 2009)
Originally titled

BUTTERFLY ART

by

John Butler and Sonya Ziegler

Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, the metamorphosis of the art program at Monarch School has gone from a mere crawl to spreading its wings and taking flight. This important art program for homeless and at-risk kids dates back to 1998, when Chicano Park muralist, painter and activist Mario Torero worked with a group of students from The Monarch School to create a series of murals. Drawing upon the challenges, hopes, dreams and dread of these children, the mural focuses on what it means to be homeless, from the child's point of view. To this day, these murals greet everyone who enters the school and proudly shows that art is the heart of the school.

Dedicated to providing homeless and at-risk children with an accredited education while caring for their basic needs, Monarch School is located in downtown San Diego and is one of only two such school left in the United States. With more than 100 kids between the ages of 7 and 18 enrolled at any one time, the professionals there are making sure that these fantastic, sometimes forgotten kids, get the accredited education they need to break the cycle of their family's pain. With the average age of a homeless person being just 9 years old, there are more than 2,200 homeless children in San Diego and more than 300,000 nationwide! Touring Monarch School, witnessing the creativity of the kids and the dedication of the staff restores hope and reminds all of us that we can help these young lives.

Through art, this diverse assortment of students express themselves in a way that is meaningful, beautiful and personal. "The arts provide such a real way for students to stay connected to their cultures and to share their cultures," says Rachelle Jacobson, Monarch's Expressive Arts Therapist since the evolution of the position in October 2007. Originally hired in 1998, she has witnessed the development of the art program since the mural project spurred the school into officially starting an art program; to today, when artistic expression is used as a therapeutic tool for these challenged kids. With a Masters Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy, Rachelle is pioneering this new program using an array of artistic outlets that allow the child to show, rather than tell what is going on inside of them. Helping these kids deal with the challenges that have been presented to them so early in their young lives. "When insecurity takes energy away from learning, artistic expression, such as theater, dance, painting and sandtray therapy, can restore a child's strength by creating safe experiences to draw from."

"It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child,"

~Pablo Picasso.

With no stigma attached, Rachelle says that students receiving Expressive Art Therapy are not mocked by other students, but are instead envied. "Once, a student came up to me and asked. What do I have to do to come and see you?" Rachelle replied, "You just need to be facing some challenges." The little girl, who was just 9-years old, remarked adorably, "I'm psycho…"

"What a powerful medium the arts are in a school program. It engages the kids, nurtures them, gives them another, creative way to communicate and express themselves. In addition, homelessness is not the biggest issue. These are kids trying to figure out who they are. They want to know where they fit in. They are dealing with parent issues, kids picking on them and all of the normal issues you would expect to see at a regular school," Rachelle goes on to add that, "The students of Monarch School are not the reason why their family is in a shelter, or on the street. They're only kids!"

Help these kids bridge the gap that divides them from the life they know, and the one they dream of. Today, you read about these kids, what are you going to do tomorrow? Go to their website, www.monarchschools.org, and volunteer, donate art supplies, join with Fine Magazine in doing something now.

Credits

Writers: Sonya Ziegler is a Professional Organizer, Event Planner, and CEO of Aim to Simplify (AimtoSimplify.com). John Butler is a professional Ghostwriter and Freelance Writer living in San Diego's Historic Gaslamp Quarter (JBWrites.com). Artwork: Inocente Izucar, whose art decorates these pages, was in 8th grade when she created these works of art.