"Life Lines" Community Arts Project at MS 136/821

The “Life Lines” project is a free, nationally-recognized program that brings together social work, the arts, and education to involve participants in group experiences that promote individual growth and build community. “Life Lines” uses performing and visual arts to give expression to relevant social and emotional themes, promote cultural understanding, and strengthen connections between people. Afterschool, summer, and in-school arts programs provide quality arts instruction in the context and continuity of long-term relationships with a staff of artists, social workers, and young adults from the community. Through participation in “Life Lines”, members experience themselves as active contributors to a group and to their community, while they develop their creativity, self-understanding, leadership, and competence in a variety of art forms.

• A five-day a week After-school Arts Program for students in grades 6-8 provides instruction in dance, acting, vocals, percussion, visual arts, and creative writing, along with daily homework assistance, computer access, and academic enrichment. Sixth graders participate in a “closed” group led by two young adults. They receive weekly instruction in each of the art forms, along with daily homework assistance. Seventh graders meet twice a week as a group and participate in community service projects; they are free to choose from a variety of activity offerings on the remaining three days each week. Students in grade 8 and older select art activities of their choice on a daily basis.
• Traveling Theater and Dance Troupes provide advanced instruction along with leadership training and opportunities for teens to conduct workshops and performances on family and community issues with a variety of populations. During the summer, these Troupes provide training and paid employment for youth, ages 14 and older, who participate in the Summer Youth Employment Program. Each year, Troupe workshops and performances reach more than 3,000 additional children, parents, senior citizens, and professionals in the New York area. A Fine Art Troupe, Percussion Troupe, and Choral Singing Troupe are also offered.
• A High School Internship Program allows high school students to volunteer as intern staff in the afterschool program two afternoons per week. In addition to gaining work experience, interns attend a weekly discussion/ training group and receive academic assistance. Interns receive monthly stipends based on participation.
• A six-week Community Arts Summer Day Camp serves youth ages 10-15. This program includes three days on-site for skill development in the arts and two days off-site for cultural and recreational trips, along with special event days, an overnight ecology camping trip, and an all-camp show.
• Three Annual Productions include an improvisational drama with teen-created characters, songs, dance, and visual art that brings to life the struggles and vitality of our diverse neighborhood, a musical adaptation of literature from the middle school reading list, and a traveling summer theater production that immerses participants and audiences in cultural exploration.
• Parent Programs include a parent advisory council, Community and Salsa Dance classes, parent-youth arts events, family cultural outings, and volunteer support for annual productions.
• The In-school Arts Partnership with MS 136 and MS 821 is a collaboration of teachers, artists, social workers, and students that aims to increase student achievement and provide a supportive and creative learning environment. During the school day, “Life Lines” artists and social workers partner with middle school teachers to create interdisciplinary learning projects. Semester-long projects expose students to a variety of art forms, reinforce content from social studies, science, math, and language arts curricula, and address New York State Learning Standards. Focus on interpersonal skills, classroom group dynamics, and the unique social-emotional needs of middle school students strengthens students’ capacity to function as a group and generates enthusiasm for learning.
• Collaboration with MS 136 and MS 821 extends to include parents, school administration, and other community-based organizations in Comprehensive Arts Planning Teams for each school. These teams are involved in resource and space development, community event planning, communication within and beyond the school, and sustainability of arts programming. A concrete outcome of this collaboration has been the development of permanent, dedicated arts spaces at M.S. 136 that are fully utilized year-round by school and community programs.

"Life Lines" Community Arts Project
Middle School 136/821 
4004 4th Avenue 
Brooklyn, NY 11232
(718) 832-6041