Art-Based SEL Program
What is SEL?
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) helps both students and adults develop social and emotional skills and strategies to manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and navigate personal challenges. Art and its many mediums, including music, provide powerful tools for self-awareness, expression, and communication - helping build confidence, encourage creativity, strengthen connections across learning experiences, and support emotional well-being both inside and outside the classroom.
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Program Support
Program Support
Program Support
This program is supported in part by a RESTORE THE CORE micro-grant from the Smith/Stocks-Smith Family Foundation doing business as the Urban Action Network. Additional funds have been provided by the Illinois Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Springfield Area Arts Council, and the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln
This program is supported in part by a RESTORE THE CORE micro-grant from the Smith/Stocks-Smith Family Foundation doing business as the Urban Action Network. Additional funds have been provided by the Illinois Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Springfield Area Arts Council, and the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln through the Hanson Family Fund as well as Jane and Paul Ford Family Fund.
Why the CRM?
Program Support
Program Support
SEL connects naturally with the mission of the Creative Reuse Marketplace by combining creativity, self-expression, and community engagement. Through hands-on art and creative reuse, participants build confidence, emotional awareness, problem-solving skills, and stronger connections to both themselves and their community.
The Program
Program Support
The Program
The program was originally created to provide weekly hands-on, art-based learning activities within the classroom during school hours, helping students explore feelings, emotions, thoughts, and outside influences while developing healthy tools to process challenges through art. Many lessons incorporate creative reuse and upcycling, encour
The program was originally created to provide weekly hands-on, art-based learning activities within the classroom during school hours, helping students explore feelings, emotions, thoughts, and outside influences while developing healthy tools to process challenges through art. Many lessons incorporate creative reuse and upcycling, encouraging broader conversations around community and local responsibility.
Success
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The Program
Lesson plans and overall program guidelines were shaped through staff, teacher, and student feedback, along with a soft launch of hands-on classroom art projects during the 2024–2025 academic school year. A full launch of the program took place during the 2025–2026 school year at Douglas Alternative School in Springfield, Illinois. The pr
Lesson plans and overall program guidelines were shaped through staff, teacher, and student feedback, along with a soft launch of hands-on classroom art projects during the 2024–2025 academic school year. A full launch of the program took place during the 2025–2026 school year at Douglas Alternative School in Springfield, Illinois. The program successfully met its original goals of providing consistent weekly hands-on lessons while expanding to include music-focused activities, including a final lesson exploring the rhythm of life through sound and creativity.
Evolution
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Want to Help?
As the program continues to evolve, it is now expanding beyond the classroom to include workshops and experiences for adults and the broader community. This growth reflects the belief that social-emotional learning, creativity, and self-expression are valuable lifelong tools that can support emotional well-being, connection, and resilience at any age.
Want to Help?
Want to Help?
Want to Help?
Community support helps this program continue to grow and expand its impact. While grant funding has provided an incredible foundation, additional support allows us to strengthen the program through dedicated staff, including program coordination and facilitation, while continuing to provide consistent, hands-on learning experiences throu
Community support helps this program continue to grow and expand its impact. While grant funding has provided an incredible foundation, additional support allows us to strengthen the program through dedicated staff, including program coordination and facilitation, while continuing to provide consistent, hands-on learning experiences throughout the year. Every contribution helps create more opportunities for creativity, connection, and emotional growth within our community.
~ Thank you for being part of that impact!
** THANK YOU to all our Program Partners/Sponsors **
