Clark State Community College’s youth outreach program – Project Jericho – has been selected to receive continued funding from the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) for two years of services.
Lauren Houser, director of Project Jericho, said the staff is committed to finding ways to continue engaging youth and families in meaningful art experiences as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Project Jericho has been offering virtual open studio sessions every Monday since April and will continue to offer this programming to teenagers.
“This year will be unlike any other year in the 21 years of Project Jericho's history,” she said. “We know that performing and visual arts are needed now more than ever.”
The funding from JFS supports Project Jericho's ongoing youth and family programming. A typical program year includes two week-long camps for youth and one annual week-long camp for families; eight art modules, 30 sessions of a student-led open studio and up to eight community or public performances or visual art presentations showcasing the achievements of Project Jericho youth and families.
“We've equipped each participant with their own art supplies to use at home,” said Houser. “We are working with our diverse and dynamic teaching artists to find ways for them to develop programming opportunities that can be administered through virtual platforms for now.”
The annual Project Jericho events Project Scare-A-Crow and Chalkfest will not go on as planned this year also due to COVID-19.
“We can't in good faith create a reason to gather in such a large group setting while the pandemic is still a threat to our community's health and well-being,” said Houser. “We are working with our community partner National Trail Parks and Recreation District to come up with a creative way to keep the spirit of Chalkfest and Project Scare-A-Crow going this fall.”
Houser said Project Jericho does have a date selected for Chalkfest 2021 and is looking forward to bringing the festival back downtown to the community.
In addition, Project Jericho is working with local non-profit The Conscious Connect to bring a piece of public art to Woodward Avenue and a neighborhood on the south side of Springfield.
Houser said the goal is to bring this project to life in August before school starts. The mural is a colorful, geometric design that includes words of encouragement.
Youth and families who may be interested in Project Jericho programming can use the referral form at https://www.project-jericho.com/participant-referral or by contacting Project Jericho directly at 937.328.3869.