Wyoming Families First (WFF) believes that youth are our state’s most important asset. WFF has a successful history of working with teens to teach skills that help them successfully transition into adulthood. WFF proposes to build on its success by integrating creative arts as an outlet for vulnerable, justice-involved youth to cope with trauma, build

resiliency and develop interpersonal skills and prosocial behaviors needed to support their health and well-being. WFF in collaboration with Rite of Passage Meadowlark Academy, Youth Alternatives, Arts Cheyenne, and Cheyenne

Makers+Creatives, is pleased to be developing the *Color the Future* (Creating art, Optimal health, & Leadership skills Oriented for Resilience) project, with a focus on supporting underserved youth who were or are involved with the juvenile justice system residing in Laramie County, Wyoming.

This high-quality arts-based community prevention project utilizes a complementary model of Positive Youth Development, known as Creative Youth Development (CYD) that is an equitable, relevant and inclusive holistic

approach that identifies multiple leverage points where great impacts can be made. WFF’s project supports CYD by providing youth exposure to high-quality arts education in conjunction with community programs that create the conditions for youth to flourish by increasing skills that aid to reduce delinquency, recidivism and other high-risk behaviors. The skills the project focuses on are:

Positive relationships and leadership abilities

• Wellness and resiliency
  
• Hands-on skill building
  
• Inquiry and self-expression
  
• Sense of belonging
  
• Safe learning environments

This project builds positive competencies through:

Exposure to a variety of local artists, both as teaching artists and guest speaking artists, to enhance youth access to the creative economy and showcases pathways into art careers. It is essential to create safe physical environments and representation in all aspects of the project where young people from underserved communities see themselves reflected back.

Creating art projects in a safe environment that support creative expression alongside the transmission of traditional and cultural practices. By introducing novel art materials, techniques and the creative process in a formal peer-to-peer group setting, youth are exposed to positive methods for expression and communication.

Family Art Night events and youth-led final exhibition projects designed to increase youth-voice, leadership skills and connectedness between youth, family and/or caring adults. These events display a commitment to valuing youths’ creativity and provide platforms to showcase their creative work.

Cross-sector collaborations with community programs to ensure youths’ academic, professional and personal success, including social-emotional competencies.

By fostering positive competencies, such as creative expression, strong relationships and leadership abilities, WFF hopes to decrease the juvenile delinquency rate and repeat offenses while supporting the growth and success of Wyoming’s youth.

Funding to support the Project COLOR the Future project is made available under the OJJDP FY 2022 Arts Programs for Justice-Involved Youth Program through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

Notice of Federal Funding and Federal Disclaimer

For more information on this project, please email info@wyofams.org.