"Art is the heart’s explosion on the world. Music. Dance. Poetry. Art on cars, on walls, on our skins. There is probably no more powerful force for change in this uncertain and crisis-ridden world than young people and their art. It is the consciousness of the world breaking away from the strangle grip of an archaic social order."
-Luis Rodriguez
We are excited to introduce our new passion project that continues to highlight the beautiful and powerful connection between theory and practice. Social Emotional Arts & Radical Community Healing (SEARCH) brings together our love and passion for the arts, restorative practices, racial justice, and positive youth development. SEARCH offers the integration of transformative and radical community healing coupled with social and emotional development through the arts!
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Growing body of research demonstrates that creative expression and the arts offer unparalleled ability to apply healing centered approaches that bring people together into safe spaces to engage in self-exploration, crucial conversations, and community building. The Praxis Social Emotional Arts & Radical Community Healing (SEARCH) combines years of applied arts research with the globally recognized Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) process. Since 2019, the Praxis Institute and Project Restore Initiative have implemented the TRHT-Youth Institute. The Youth Institute trains, empowers, and emboldens youth, and community practitioners in restorative practices and the TRHT process in order to be active contributors in the creation of individual and collective wellbeing. Integrating the TRHT-YI model and the arts, SEARCH ignites individual and collective action through five main components.
THE 5 COMPONENTS OF S.E.A.R.C.H
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Relationship & Community Building
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Identity & Culture
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Narrative Change
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Creativity & Innovation
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Healing & Transformation
The launch of SEARCH comes at a crucial time when we all have experienced increased stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, political tensions, social unrest, systemic racism, and economic uncertainty. We believe that creating safe spaces to address these issues is essential to our collective healing, transformation, and wellness.
We have all experienced the magic that comes with circles- the beauty in transforming relationships, with speaking our truths, and the healing aspect of listening and witnessing others' lived experiences. Over the last 20 years the Praxis Alliance has worked in schools and with communities applying healing centered approaches to training and facilitating circles. Through SEARCH we have added an additional element to the healing process that includes opportunities for creativity, expression, and critical reflection through the arts. Combined with the TRHT Youth institute model, SEARCH uses arts and circles to explore individual and collective identities, sharing stories, and finding ways to heal together.
Our SEARCH Communities of Praxis brings people together in restorative circles that provide opportunities for people to connect and address critical issues through open and honest conversations in small groups. The art process grants us the opportunity to relate, process, and better understand topics and critical conversations. Integrating the arts to the healing process promotes relaxation; builds self-esteem; releases tension and anxiety; emphasizes collaboration and cooperation; problem solving; self-management and organization; and grants us an opportunity to release and heal internally and externally simultaneously!​
If you are interested in bringing S.E.A.R.C.H to your city/program or are interested in learning more about the youth institute (participant or instructor) please contact: steven@praxisinst.com or fausto@praxisinst.com.