Technohealer
Inter-Generational Programming
Portrait By Artist James Davson
Email Manager: Brenda Torres
for further information on Exhibitions...
Email Manager: Brenda Torres
for further information on Exhibitions...
- "Youth Of Our Future"
- "Black Musician Icons of yesterday and Today...(Large Oil Paintings) Currently at CNR Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Brooklyn N.Y.
- "A Woman's Cry" (Battered Women)
- and More....
Visit my artist page...
" I DON'T SUGAR COAT NOTHING."
I have learned that working with the youth can be a challenge, but also an opportunity to learn from our future replacements in society.
Working with the youth in a New York City Public High School as a Financial Aid Counselor was an eye opener as my office remained very busy with students. Some for brief moments while others exploring the various college opportunities at length.
Guiding the students to explore their school of choice was not as difficult as finding out what major they wanted to study. Many did not have a clue to college offered majors, but even worse was what,and who they wanted to be...
This became apparently a pattern of returning students with more questions as I asked the same simple one.
"Who are you?"
This question caught the students by surprise because they expected the obvious question,
"Who do you want to be?"
Laughter turned serious as I began to dig deep into questioning their true passions,interests,gifts,abilities,strengths and weakness.
It then led to the next level of conversation..
"I don't sugar coat Nothing"...So listen up.
This was the beginning of realizing I was reaching the youth by talking straight at their level. Not sugar coating the talk but giving it to them straight. They began to return for more talks. The conversations began to peel the layers of their protecting armor they put on before leaving home. This armor keeps not only their parents, teachers away but anyone giving guiding structure. They don't let their guards down when they hang out with friends.....typical and needed as many described. Because it was like breaking bread with each other described Javier, my City as School HS student.
"Yes Like breaking bread"...
Who would think? they want to just sit down and just be heard while sharing knowledge....of survival from their current battles faced in the streets of New York.
Gangs, Pimps,Pregnancy,and Prostitution is what we protect our children from, but little do we know they too are running everyday from the constant reminder of its reality.
Many of the youth i speak to have come by my office now as I work with them as a volunteer's coordinator in a long-term facility with the same armor. The only difference is that instead of going into a regular classroom, they now go into a resident's "classroom". In a resident's room at a nursing home getting straight talk from those who wrote the book on survival and the blueprints that are faintly fading from the past...
I often tell them that our bed-bound residents are like cocoons waiting to blossom into butterflies. They are in a confined body with limited speech,walking,and even grasping abilities. Meanwhile if they really look and observe, the residents are really DANCING, SINGING, and PAINTING Images of life as they see it in their unique ways.
I make them explore ways to communicate with residents that are bed-bound and whom may appear not able to communicate. Through eye blink commands.I.e. one blink meaning yes two blinks no. Or grasping of their hands while doing the same with a squeeze.
Working with the youth allows me to continue creative methods, like small forum gatherings to explore their state of mind and a self reflective experience with the elderly through a "No sugar cover" approach. I give it to them straight on real terms without any complicated talk. But keeping it factual with graphics,as I attempt to place them in an empathetic state to better relate to human nature conditions in it's most vulnerable state.
I often tell them that before they go to meet a resident they have to understand what they are going to see. First, I ask them how old they think people living in a nursing home have to be? Their answers amaze me i.e. 90yrs and over. I explain that there are late teens now in nursing homes and they are amazed, and often ask why?
I explain that the young ones are usually gun shot victims from related gang activity. They stay still receptive and quiet. I go on and explain that the youth usually want to hang out with their friends instead of parents and family and usually consider these gangs their family.TRUTH IS...When they are in the hospital they get visits from them at first, but it soon dies down.The daily or constant visitors become their parents and family. Their friends soon become distant visitors eventually disappear all together.
Second fact, In the short term rehabilitation units clients are now coming in younger.They are teachers,Principals,clerks, etc. When I tell them, they are truly surprised. But what shocks them more is telling them that many PARENTS are now in Short-term Rehab due to a rapture in their brain due from worrying about their child's late night hangouts and possible gang involvements.Parents do not sleep at night and have to wake up to deal with their regular daily job without sleep.They are irritable,tired,exhausted and stressed. Then they go home and deal with the same oh same oh...I always ask the teens to observe their parents to see if they are holding their head with one hand on a side.I begin to describe how a stroke occurs from a rupture of a vein on a side of their brain brought upon from excessive stress and high blood pressure.
Fathers tend to have more occurrence due to their reawaken state at rehab and the reality of questions? I.e. How long will my insurance pay for my care? "Oh No! My daughter is going to college!" "Will my wife leave me ?".
STRESSED out causes a possible second or even third stroke...
As I told this story to a group of high school students, I dismissed them but one student stood behind and shared with me that he was that youth I described giving his mother pure hell and not coming home and she worked two jobs as a single mom. But, yes she fell a victim to this horrible STROKE. Now in a wheelchair he has to learn how to take care of his mother. I went through the simple changes and modifications needed to care for his mom including putting the dishes to the lower cabinets due to her limited reaching abilities. Unfortunately, he did not complete his internship due to his mother's constant clinic appointments and his need to accompany her because of the home attendants limited hour coverage.
There are so many stories I share with the students and I somewhat can tell after experiencing so many interactions with them when they face problems or what story to use in reaching them.
My old high school City-As -School in Manhattan is a unique school utilizing a European concept allowing students to have a hands on life experience in their subjects in a community organizations. A semester of full learning and growing from life working experience works great for many students who can handle off school site experiences. A great concept that works for mature students that completed the basic academics and able to be out of a class room for the remaining year while gaining credits from their resources.
I now am privileged to give the opportunity as a CAS Alumni give current CAS students an opportunity given to me. I gained great knowledge and experience that built and made me who I am today. I am trying to explain that to my students, now that they too must give back as future successful alumni to help built positive communities of diverse thinkers and doers.
I've learned working with the youth that many need to build up their self-esteem and be given opportunities to learn basic life skills that help them become sensitive,empathetic,learn a new sense of self perseverance and the importance of their contribution to cycle of life.Working with guidance counselors and teachers is first in allowing them to buy into the concept of teaching and working with their existing lesson-plans, student's school programs and incorporate them within the plan or activity.
I often am able to provide:
Literature in forms of poetry groups,pen-pal,reading ,writing groups, and history etc.
Art programs through collaborative inter-generational sessions. Collage,Portrait, card decor'(birthday/holiday cards),arts & crafts and more...
Cognitive Brain Fitness-through various trivia and mind and memory games.
Physical-exercise using balloon toss, adapted sports, and dancing and trips.
Spiritual-devotional readings , religious trivia, games and more...
Emotional-Poetry,social groups, chicken soup for the soul, puppetry,body beautiful ( pampering residents through hand massage,and aroma therapy).One-on-One visits to listen or sharing moments in room through a game,or special individualized group.
Music-Drum circle,bell choir, and more...
(Joshua H.S. student Reads to the residents)
Before starting any program I usually suggest going to the school and meeting with teachers and then the students, to introduce the program and orient students to what they will experience before they get into the doors.
I have developed great partnerships with community schools,after school programs,and churches.
Working with City-As School High School both in Manhattan and Brooklyn has allowed me to give back as an alumni by opening my doors to numerous students sometimes 20 at a time which has earned recognition.
City-As-School has a European school in trouble with their youth not taking their resources seriously.Two Administrators from the school requested from the NY school to visit a successful site resource and out of so many resources in the city they chose CNR where I work where we have students attending regularly even on OFF SCHOOL DAYS!!!! just because they want too and do not have anything else to do...and they have grown bonds with clients but more importantly found that they are exercising PURPOSE and making a difference for another human being.
It was an honor to be recognized as a resource to help give assistance to a needed system in Europe.They visited and the students expressed themselves and after explaining to them the program they were impressed and even invited me to visit the school.Which I do not mind to do to help.
Pictured below are my two of my students, 2nd & 3rd right CAS guidance counselors,
2nd left CAS European HS Administrator,
and CNR Administrator.
2nd left CAS European HS Administrator,
and CNR Administrator.
I work with groups of students 5-30 at one time I sub-divide and have them ADOPT a Resident... matching them to a senior or client with common interests through interviews.When I work with the school I usually have the same students for 30-60 days even up to a year.
The ages vary so plans and programs must be modified by age.
Upon completion a graduation,certificate award,where I get musicians,puppeteer,and even have our youth group perform and share their talents in a Youth Gala.
Overall working with the youth is a challenge but keep in mind that they need guidance,and MENTORS to help them get it straight and find knowledge which is KEY to good healthy choices.
My Legacy
and
Purpose...
and
Purpose...
My Father
Hertz Torres
Hertz Torres
My Grandfather
Ismael Torres
Ismael Torres
My Grandmother
De La Rosa
De La Rosa
My Blessed Mother
Pura Torres
Pura Torres
Guess Who?
