DATE: April 10, 2008
CONTACT:
Pam Bryant, (803) 553-7705
pbryant@clemson.edu
WRITER:
Chris Copeland, (803) 397-0597
ccopela@clemson.edu
Clemson youthful offenders program receives arts grant
AIKEN – Clemson University’s Youth Learning Institute (YLI) has been awarded $3,000 by the South Carolina Arts Commission for 2008-2009. The support will allow YLI to incorporate arts into its educational curriculum at the W.W. Long Youth Development Center (YDC) in Aiken.
The YDC is a partnership program of YLI and the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice designed to divert nonviolent, low-risk offenders ages 12 to 18 from the state’s juvenile justice facility. While serving 30- to 90-day sentences in a residential, camp-like setting, juvenile offenders from across the state learn behavior modification and continue their education with unique, hands-on curriculum modules that align with South Carolina educational standards.
The S.C. Arts Commission grant will enable the YDC to have an art educator and consultant incorporate performing and visual arts into existing curriculum modules, such as aerospace, zoology, electricity, marine science, horticulture, food and nutrition and mechanical science. Each module already integrates science, social studies, math and language arts. A portion of the grant funds will be used to purchase art supplies.
“Using arts across the curriculum helps promote individuality, bolster self-confidence, strengthen problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and improve overall academic performance,” said Pam Ardern, YLI director of curriculum development.
The South Carolina Arts Commission provides grants, technical services and leadership to arts organizations, schools and individual artists to preserve and promote the arts across the spectrum of South Carolina’s cultures and forms of expression. Headquartered in Columbia, the commission draws on money appropriated by the South Carolina General Assembly and the federal government through the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaArts.com or call (803) 734-8696.
For more information about the YDC, contact Director Cody Greene at (803) 502-1683 or cgreene@clemson.edu.
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