Story Garden as a Tool for Social Justice

One Saturday, while the children and the facilitators were painting together, I was explaining to the uncle of Imani why we come to Brownsville every week to do the Story Garden: “We believe all children are capable of making beautiful things.” The uncle – who had come back to the neighborhood where he grew up, to protect his niece – replied, “Of course they are, but they don’t have all the same opportunities and what you bring in the neighborhood is opportunities.” Bringing books and materials for writing and art encourages the children to learn, but this uncle made it clear that it’s also a tool for social justice, as it helps to distribute resources in one of the most underserved communities in New York City.

Creating art and learning new skills allow the children to see themselves in a positive way, which counteracts the label they often endure of “poor child living in a violent neighborhood.” We often hear a child saying “I’m an artist!”

This outcome is not magical: facilitators need to be well prepared, with books and art activities that enable the children to expand their horizons. The Story Garden differs from school, where the children are expected to study and succeed; here, we encourage them to grow as human beings and to interact peacefully with others. This lowers the pressure on them. Some parents, worried about their children's behavior at school, are amazed to see those same children staying focused and quiet during the Story Garden, where they're free to explore and try different skills.

Imani’s uncle helped me to go deeper in my understanding.  Another component of social justice is social well-being — the extent to which you feel a sense of belonging and social inclusion. During one Story Garden, Nathan, a young man, came over to us, agitated and drooling. He pointed to the books and started to sob and shout in anger, “I don’t know how to read.” I offered to sit and read a book with him, looking at the words and sounds together. He agreed, and after a few sentences he was much calmer. The Story Garden had offered him a rare time of peace.

Elijah, 7 years old, has attended the Story Garden for more than two years. He would often arrive angry, striking out and even hurting himself. The calmness of the art activities, the patience of the facilitators, and especially the other children's ability to include even the most turbulent child encouraged Elijah to finally sit down and create something that makes him feel proud.

The Story Garden contributes to socialjustice in Brownsville by offering opportunities to learn and create in asetting that fosters a sense of belonging. That leads us to a new challenge: toconnect with local social justice initiatives including tenant associations,health clinics, justice centers, and schools. We recently met with someone fromthe local public library who is passionate about what we do – so we are on ourway.