Hope at Hand

Hope at Hand provides poetry sessions for at-risk and vulnerable youth populations. Combining creativity, poetry and elements of art, we facilitate healing and personal growth for children and adolescents.

With poetry as the foundation, Hope at Hand provides strategies that support youth overcoming barriers to successful participation in society. Hope at Hand teaches independent wellness strategies that can easily be internalized and sustained, all through poetry and creative expression. Lessons are carefully designed to engage hard-to-reach youth, blending honest reflection and visions of choice and change.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website cdc.gov: “Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. As such, early experiences are an important public health issue. Much of the foundational research in this area has been referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs are linked to: risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, low life potential, and early death. As the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk for these outcomes. CDC promotes lifelong health and well-being, assuring safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children...that will help children reach their full potential.”

Hope at Hand uses therapeutic art and poetry strategies designed to help people recognize and overcome circumstances that limit their successful participation in society. We help youth in North Florida reach their full potential. We can shine a light on the goodness within each damaged child. We help them let go of the past and seek a bright future. We let them know that they are smart and worthy. Hope at Hand challenges ACEs through art and poetry. 

Hope at Hand poetry sessions are conducted by trained facilitators using a variety of methods to introduce poetry. As trust is established, we introduce different forms of published poetry that allow youth to dig into metaphors and figurative language. We guide youth to the heart of the poem with discussions related to their situations. They write original poems to reinforce their connections to the discussions and the poem. Hope at Hand challenges difficult experiences and feelings of disappointment, anger, and frustration through poetry and in 2018 provided 406 hours of poetry programming for over 1500 youth. Once reading and analysis are completed, participants transform their words into art. Sessions end with a final product that combines elements of art and poetry so participants take a tangible product back to their daily lives.