PRELIMINARY IDEAS
And INVITATION TO DIALOGUE
INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION
with YOUTH
IN WEST OAHU THROUGH THE ARTS
Poverty. Traumatic life events. Addiction. Low school achievement. Negative
peer relationships. Neglect.
We can cite excellent professional studies* and share direct personal
experience, attitudes, and biases about the multitude of factors which propel
many children and youth of west Oahu down ego-destroying, selfdestructive, community harming paths.
As a faith community we are called to cite and share opinions for only so long
… before we are called to step in to care for these at-risk children and youth,
to support and resource their families, to help build healthy communities,
and network with community entities that share this and similar missions:
Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the
right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak
and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the
wicked.’ Psalm 82:3-4
So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work
for the good of all. Galatians 6.10
The ideas presented here are a first step by Pearl City Community Church
UCC to begin dialogue that will lead to community partnership in caring and
collaborative action towards intervention and prevention in support of at-risk
children and youth, their families, and our communities through the arts.
* Primary Resources: Serious Juvenile Offenders in Hawaii: A Statistical Profile
(Research Statistics – Department of Attorney General June 2006) and An Analysis
of Service Inventory “Risks and Needs Data for Juvenile Offenders” (Assessed by
Hawaii’s Second and Third Circuit Court and Hawaii Youth Corrections Facility 20012006)
Factors Guiding Our First Step Proposal
Among the top 10 of 34 Factors which point towards at-risk behaviors
which can lead to incarceration are:
 Neglect
 Negative Peer Group
 Absent Parent
Among the top 3 of 8 Personal Characteristics manifest in youth
offenders are:
 Impulsiveness
 Susceptible to Peer Pressure
 Low School Achievement/Alienation
Among 8 Factors which if addressed can deter at-risk behavior are:
 Peer Relations
 Leisure/Recreation Activities
 Attitudes/Orientation
Taking one local elementary school serving our immediate neighborhood
(Lehua Elementary) as an example (and by no means does Lehua have
greater problems than other schools in our west Oahu) we note
 Chronic absenteeism 9%
 Children qualifying for Free or Reduced Lunch Program 31%
A First Step Proposal
Production of a music CD performed by west Oahu children and youth
To identify and engage youth to sing and produce a musical CD.
Why the Arts?
Arts focused programs addressing gang/addiction/suicide intervention and
prevention efforts have proven effective over and over again in curbing atrisk behaviors in children and youth and in building healthy communities
(Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Youth in Action, City
at Peace).
We believe that an arts focused initiative (music, drama, etc) with partners
concerned to help at-risk youth in west Oahu will address several identified
deterrence factors (see attachments) simultaneously and cumulatively:
especially Peer Relations, Leisure/Recreation, and Attitude/Orientation.
We believe helping youth to be successful in claiming their creative gifts and
participating positively in groups will enhance their confidence and selfesteem and increase the likelihood of their learning/educational success
helping them be more productive in their schooling.
As a faith community it is our deepest conviction that God is at the center of
healing. The arts provide profound opportunities to encounter the sacred and
transcendent. When a youth sings they can claim their authentic voice and
self-esteem can grow in astounding ways. When a youth is in a studio
collaborating with others to produce exciting music other “park activities”
become less seductive.
When linked with the love and support of faith-based community and
community partners we believe we engage in intervention and prevention in
many ways:
1) by recognizing and nurturing the unique and particular talents and
creativity of each youth participant
2) by limiting the opportunity for negative peer pressure and drug related
behaviors
3) by creating positive, supportive, loving community and an “extended
family” support
4) by offering alternative leisure/recreational/social activities through
participation in community-building and accomplishing production
goals while deterring lonely, isolating behavior
5) by creating caring, honest, positive relationship building skills
6) by encouraging and teaching personal responsibility as well as
nurturing the sense of dignity and value that each participant brings to
the community
First Step Preliminary Plan
CD Production (Step 1)
OBJECTIVES
To produce a CD of music performed by Oahu youth
To specifically target at-risk youth
To link with local schools
To identify partners and funders engaged in gang/addiction/suicide
prevention
To identify partners and funders engaged in the arts for young people
To recruit youth for CD performance – PCCC, Nu’u Lotu, community
To recruit youth for youth performing arts project
To launch large vision of Aloha Ohana
GOALS
To build self-esteem and re-channel negative self-image and selfdestructive behaviors through the CD creation and distribution
process and eventually through the arts
To create alternative activities and build community with faith-based
values for youth
To produce, market, sell CD for publicity, identity and funding
in/through faith-based communities
To produce, market, sell CD for publicity, identity, and funding in wider
communities
APPROACH Immediate:
Identify and create PCCC based team to begin project
Identify community partners to develop plan
Develop “business plan” with community partners
Develop “business plan” with Junko
Identify PCCC internal funding
May
Begin to identify community youth and families (promotion)
Junko firm up Production
Identify Music Staff
PCCC team present project to Council request Congregational
meeting
Begin plan for Kick 0ff event 7/10/15
June
Begin weekly rehearsals with youth
Plan Kick-Off event
Junko coordinate with Music Staff
Production planning
Publicity planning
July
Media blitz and Faith-based communities
Stage Kick-Off event 7/10/15
August
Police and Youth Forum at PCCC
SEPTEMBER – RECORD
October - December
Convene Performing Art Center partners
Seek funding
Junko and youth perform
PERFORMING ARTS (Step 2)
“IT’S COOL IN THE FURNACE” CHILDREN’S MUSICAL
January
Audition/cast play from core group and open auditions
Begin rehearsals
Build Performing Arts Center Structure/staff
February
Play presented at PCCC Feb 28
Public performances March 4,5,6