Wednesdays in June from 11:30am-12:30pm in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center, there is a fun, FREE activity for children ages 4-10 (parents welcome!) followed by a FREE snack. Even though there is not cost, participants need to register by calling 328-7951. This event is sponsored by the Turner Foundation.

Over forty students from Clark, Hayward, Roosevelt and Schaefer Middle Schools have participated this spring in Project Jericho’s After School Arts Program (ASAP). This term the students are focusing on the theme of “Exploring Unity” as each school’s program strives to build unity through their work in the arts. Sharon Koster has led Clark Middle School students to learn how to play the recorder and use their voices to inspire others to become positive agents of change. Jeffrey Brunner and Susan Broidy have teamed up to work with Hayward and Roosevelt in the creation of mosaic benches that will be permanently installed in the gardens of the new high school. Jane Fritts has explored unity with Schaefer students through the creation of a collaborative painting that will be hung in the library of their middle school.

The work that the students are completing in twelve short weeks is amazing and will be showcased at our public performance and presentation Wednesday, May 14, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm in the Turner Studio at the Clark State Performing Arts Center. Please plan to join in this celebration of unity as many of our ASAP students prepare to enter the halls of Springfield City School’s new Springfield High School this fall.

Project Jericho’s Life Book program allows us to artistically address state standards requiring a Life Book for foster children in care more than six months. This program involves foster children and caseworkers in an artistic journey into self-discovery that results in a beautiful, tangible representation of the child’s life. During the intensive one-week camp, two artists incorporate creative writing, watercolor painting, and factual archiving in a process that connects the social worker to child, and the child to his/her history.

Project Jericho performing arts ensembles will again be at the Upper Valley Mall in Springfield to support the Victim’s Rights Activity Fair! The Bucket Band will perform at 11:45 am and the EXODUS Hip Hop Troupe will perform at 12:45 pm. Don’t miss this event as this will be an unveiling! This is your first chance to see the new EXODUS Hip Hop Dance Troupe perform!

Project Jericho youth and families spent a lot of time tapping into their creative skills during the month of February. Their charge: To create a permanent mural in the LOBBY at the Department of Job and Family Services! The theme is FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD. Eight families met every Wednesday and Thursday night of February. Each night, artist Kristi Limes introduced a new continent to the families. Participants were given a flag for a country, and their assignment was to to create paper cutouts of people dressed in traditional outfits.

Each paper person was decorated beautifully with paper, fabric, yarn, ribbon and feathers. The families made a total of over 100 different people to represent cultures from all around the world. A second group met on Saturdays and Sundays during February and worked with artist Sherry Ringler to paint the wall for the mural. This group consisted of six teenagers who began their part of the project by priming and painting the walls of the lobby of DJFS a beautiful blue. Once the base coat was up, the participants chose a hot air balloon which they then painted onto the walls. Each hot air balloon features a different design and different colors. The balloons are attached by yellow “ribbons” of paint. The paper people were then attached onto these yellow ribbons to form a chain of people all around the room. Project Jericho staff and DJFS staff created the paper people who are inside of the hot air balloon baskets.

The Department of Job and Family Services hosted an open house and foster care / adoption event which included the mural opening on April 3rd. It was very exciting to have so many people come out to support the mural. Stuart Secttor, the Executive Director of The Clark State Performing Arts Center was in attendance, as well as the Director of DJFS, Robert Suver, and even the Mayor of Springfield, Warren Copeland. What a treat to have the turnout that we did, and what a pleasure to have the presence of so many community members! This mural was an effort by many, and it is BEAUTIFUL – make sure you stop by DJFS to check it out!