Project DESTINY

De-Escalation Skills Training Inspiring Nonviolence in Youth

ABOUT DESTINY ARTS CENTER

Destiny Arts Center’s mission is the end isolation, prejudice and violence in the lives of young people.

Destiny is an Oakland-based nonprofit violence prevention and arts education organization that has been serving youth for over 20 years, through in-school, after-school, weekend and summer programs in dance, theater, martial arts, conflict resolution, self-defense, and youth leadership at our Oakland center and in over 20 East Bay public pre-school, elementary, middle and high schools and other community centers annually.  Destiny is committed to providing an atmosphere of support, challenge and growth for the diverse group of youth involved in our programs. A sense of community and responsibility is central to all of our activities.

WHAT IS PROJECT DESTINY?

Project DESTINY is an innovative after-school violence prevention program, based on the combination of the practice of traditional martial arts and/or hip-hop dance, with the practical skills of self-defense and conflict resolution. The purpose of the program is to teach children tools to inspire them towards positive and effective participation in their schools and communities. Destiny focuses on building self-discipline, self-expression, confidence and a sense of mastery. The long-term goal is to teach children to deal positively, creatively, and ultimately peacefully, with situations that are potentially violent, and to inspire them to become conflict managers in their schools and communities.

The program involves a rigorous regime of martial arts and/or dance training in combination with fun theater games and role-plays that help the youth practice specific conflict resolution techniques. The curriculum is centered on the Five Fingers of Violence Prevention and the Warrior’s Code, which students learn and practice in depth. Project DESTINY students perform in designated school events as well as two Destiny Arts Center produced performances per year – one in December and one in June. The Destiny performances include youth from all Destiny main site and school-based programs. Students may perform the Warriors Code, martial arts, dance, and/or movement pieces set to poetry. They also may speak about what conflict resolution means to them and how they utilize their skills in their daily lives. Ultimately Project DESTINY youth impact the larger community by becoming confident role models and advocates for peaceful resolution of conflict.

WHO TEACHES PROJECT DESTINY?

Project DESTINY is taught by experienced Destiny adult instructors and youth leaders. All of our adult instructors have at least 3 years of experience teaching movement to young people. Our martial artists are all black belts or under supervision by one of our black belt instructors. Our dance instructors are all professional performers with extensive training in various movement disciplines. Our youth leaders are trained in the Destiny philosophy of nonviolence and how to teach young students in an engaged and respectful way. We believe that the element of youth to youth mentoring is essential to the richness of the program, especially because we are teaching students to act nonviolently, when they may be extremely skeptical about the importance or usefulness of nonviolent strategies in conflict situations.

WHY USE THE MEDIUMS OF DANCE, MARTIAL ARTS, THEATER AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION?

Hip-hop Dance and Theater Games give the students an opportunity to experience artistic and cultural expression, and develop a sense of mastery over material that is accessible and fun for them. It also gives them a chance to blow off steam after a long day at school and the openness and energy to tackle the more difficult violence prevention material. Theater role-plays are then used to practice real life situations that require their conflict resolution skills.

The Martial Arts give youth an opportunity to build the confidence and discipline to act nonviolently. Traditional martial arts incorporate the practice of meditation and self control into the physical skills building, and are an important part of giving the youth alternatives to violence. Studies show that the practice of martial arts with meditation and emphasis on the philosophy of nonviolence and respect, significantly reduces violent behavior, and increases self-esteem and self-confidence. Project DESTINY classes teach Kung Fu or Karate at the basic level.

Violence Prevention training involves discussion and practice of specific, easy-to-follow steps that give the students tools to deal with potentially violent situations. The core curriculum used for this is the Five Fingers of Violence Prevention.

WHAT DOES PROJECT DESTINY DO FOR ITS PARTICIPANTS?

Findings from previous years of programming have showed that we were able to make a critical impact on the youth involved in the program. Surveys show that Project DESTINY students show a decrease in fighting behaviors and an increase in self-control. Students and teachers report that large numbers of youth in the program are able to find alternatives to violence when provoked. This included youth increasing their self-control by managing their anger and using words to take care of themselves while not allowing a peer to physically or verbally harass them. Youth that enter the program as “negative leaders” are often able to become “positive leaders” and role model peaceful, respectful behavior to their classmates.

Teachers report that attendance in the Project DESTINY program helped their students maintain their focus in the classroom and make an effort to pay attention and talk less. Teachers also noticed that students seemed more able to get along with other students, and to understand and accept the consequences of their behavior. One of the participant’s parents, from the Santa Fe Elementary School program commented that his child would come right home from Project DESTINY to do his homework so he had time later to practice what he had learned in class.

WHAT SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS HOST PROJECT DESTINY PROGRAMS IN THE 2008/2009 SCHOOL YEAR?

Allendale Elementary School, Ascend Elementary School, Bella Vista CDC, Brookfield Pre-K, Ralph J. Bunche High School, Centro Infintil Annex CDC, Civic Corps Elementary School,

Claremont Middle School, Dewey High School, Emerson Elementary School & CDC, Esperanza Academy & Fred T. Korematsu, Golden Gate CDC, Manzanita CDC, Martin Luther King CDC

New Highland Academy, Peralta Elementary School, Rudsdale High School, Harriet R. Tubman CDC, Santa Fe Elementary School & CDC, Street Academy High School, Washington CDC, Yuk Yau CDC

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT DESTINY PROGRAM?

Some youth are referred by teachers for issues of tardiness, fighting, and aggressive or withdrawn behavior or for being frequent targets of violence. We also encourage youth that are already “positive leaders” to be integrated into the program. Youth may also self-select based on their interest in dance and/or marital arts.

THE FIVE FINGERS OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION

1. Use your head: awareness skills

2. Use your mouth: talk it out, or yell if you’re in danger

3. Use your feet: walk away or run away

4. Use your fighting skills, BUT only if you have to: basic self-defense skills and an understanding of the difference between an “anger situation” and a “danger situation”

5. Tell some one what happened: identify a trusted adult to report tough situations to

The Five Fingers of Violence Prevention is a curriculum that has been developed by Destiny Arts Center’s founder, Kate Hobbs. The purpose of the Five Fingers of Violence Prevention is to teach youth the skills they need to be able to participate in their own safety.

Like so many safety skills youth absorb in their early years--buckling up in the car, not touching the cleaning supplies under the sink, looking both ways before crossing the street--violence prevention skills are not only teachable, but can proceed to developmentally critical, over-arching qualities like self-confidence and resilience. The type of violence we fear happening to youth—kidnapping, physical or sexual assault, harassment by adults, older youth or peers, bullying, gang-related violence—are all potentially preventable. Through sensitive and skillful introduction of The Five Fingers curriculum, youth can transform fear into power and curiosity about life inside and outside themselves.

Strategic discussion using concrete examples or scenarios, repetition of games, activities and exercises that reinforce the principles of the Five Fingers and an upbeat, natural demeanor when teaching this material are keys to success.

THE WARRIOR’S CODE

Love

A Warrior is skilled in body and kind in heart.

Respect

A Warrior respects him or herself and all living things.

Care

A Warrior believes that caring for him or herself means caring for our world.

Responsibility

A Warrior takes responsibility for her or his own actions and makes a superior effort in every situation.

Honor

A Warrior uses fighting skills honorably only to protect self and loved ones.

A Warrior never raises a fist in anger.

Peace

A True Warrior lives by this code and firmly believes that the greatest warrior of all is the one that stands for peace.