Why Kids Need to be Heard
Martha Randolph Carr
All About Kids Magazine
Monday, April 16, 2007
Another Richmonder using the force of creative expression to
encourage personal growth is Slash Coleman, a working artist
based in our area. He's what they call a triple threat - a
performance artist, writer and musician - who has come up with
a unique arts program that is developing a following in area
schools.


The two-year-old program funded by the Virginia Commission
for the Arts in conjunction with participating schools is called,
Healing Communities. The curriculum is a multi-disciplinary
theater arts and creative writing program that uses writing as a
tool for children to express what's going on in their lives. The
short pieces are then strung together into a cohesive new play
that is blocked, staged and acted out by the children. A
complete circle.


Most of Slash's kids come from worlds full of turmoil and chaos.
They bonded so well with Slash they opened up and spoke
what, at times, can only be described as "dark truths." This
artist's mission is universal and one we can all learn from. Use
art to help kids access their emotions in a productive manner
that they can use through-out their lives.
"I'm using art to help kids survive emotionally in the environment they're in. I don't
have the big answers. Even if I give these kids respite from their lives for an hour
a day that's enough," says Slash. "Change can encompass something smaller
and be worthwhile. So far, giving kids the space to express has been pretty heavy.
In the school day, there's just no space for them to give voice to it, and that has
led to behavioral problems."

The school treats the behavioral problems, but never gets down to what's really
wrong. However, in Slash's program expression is encouraged; it's not always a
quiet class and acting out emotions becomes a part of the lesson. Slash is able
to roll with whatever happens and turn it into a learning experience for his middle
school and high school aged students. The results? For these kids, focusing on
academic classes becomes easier.
"One girl, who wasn't that artistic, turned out to be one of the best directors, better than myself even. She was able to
see what worked right off the bat. I would have never guessed that about her,." said Jennifer. "She wasn't even that
friendly, but she blossomed."

Thats' the thing about artistic expression. It's unpredictable. It's changing. It's alive in all of us. "You never know what's
going to excite students, so we should always be open to a variety of arts experiences," said Susan Damron, resource
teacher in theater and dance at the Arts and Humanities Center for Richmond. "Art is very social. It's the fulfillment of
the individual inside."
"He has the rare ability to not let tough kids get him down and help them to be
able to express their creativity," says Jennifer Howard, a ninth grade teacher
from Huguenot High School. "They really listened and respected him. He's a
working artist and he's very generous in sharing the process of his early
manuscripts and pointing out the flaws. It legitimized art for the kids," she said.

Slash's program has the potential to be translated for any school, inner city or
suburbs to help children unlock their voice and their potential. "The teenage
years are full of fear and change," said Slash. "I'm using art so kids can feel
more comfortable reaching out to friends, teachers in more creative ways that
are fun," he said. The benefits extend beyond the arts.
Photo: Dave Miller
Slash Coleman helps kids
use writing as a tool to get in
touch with feelings.
© Slash Coleman 2008