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Mural gives teens hope
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Some residents at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Hall contemplated their future and saw the writing on the wall. Now they're painting over it.
With the help of Project Jericho, the youths are painting a mural in the detention center.
These residents finish the border on a mural they're helping to paint in a conference room at the Juvenile Detention Center Thursday. The program is part of an effort by Project Jericho to help the youths express themselves through the arts.The project is part of an effort by administrators to help the juveniles find positive ways of expressing themselves and teaching skills that will guide them after their release.
"We're not just developing skills, we're discovering them," said Beth Dixon, Outreach and Education Program Coordinator.
"It makes me feel like a kid," said a 16-year-old female resident as she worked on the mural. "I knew I was a poet, but I didn't know I was an artist, too."
The youths are guided by Sherry Ringler, a professional artist who developed the mural's concept.
The mural depicts a child looking over a sparkling lake and rolling hills toward a sunny horizon.
"Just because we're locked up doesn't mean we're bad people," said a 17-year-old male resident. "We have talent, we can do something good with our life."
Detention Director Fred Thomas called the program a "surprising success" and said he hopes the residents will be able to paint more walls in the building.
"This is the beginning," he said.
Participation is strictly voluntary, Thomas said.
Project Jericho is a joint program between the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services and the Clark State Community College Performing Arts Center. The program provides guidance to at-risk children through the arts.
As she looked over her work, one 15-year-old resident described what the mural meant to her.
"Hope."
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com
