Taking Hold

The Taking Hold Project provided girls, ages thirteen to fifteen with the tools to strengthen their social skills through arts, media and personal expression.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project used creative expression to:

  • Promote critical thinking, self-awareness and assertiveness
  • Strengthen community ties
  • Build self-confidence and empowerment
  • Strengthen goal-setting and time manage­ment skills
  • Sensitize girls to the dangers of gangs, hyper-sexualization, and other risky be­haviors

The Project Consisted Of:

  • Weekly, ninety-minute after-school or lunch-time sessions
  • Safe and confidential spaces for girls at-risk
  • Workshops that allow girls to express themselves through various arts and media workshops
  • Information sessions/schools
  • Guest speakers/role models/female artists
  • Outings & special girl-focused activities

Our project was open to girls of all backgrounds and benefited girls who have experienced difficulties related to:

  • Sexual, physical or verbal abuse
  • Parental neglect (alcohol and sub­stance abuse, mental illness)
  • Abject Poverty
  • Negative peer influence(s)
  • Adapting to parental separation/divorce, or severe personal loss
  • Placement in foster care or group homes

Or open to girls who had shown three or more of the following behavior traits:

 

  • Appears to lack empathy
  • Tendency towards social isolation
  • Always seems sad
  • Academic withdrawal
  • Falls asleep in class on several occasions
  • Lack of respect for public property or others’ belongings
  • Extreme disorganization
  • Tendency to dress provocatively (Hyper-sexualization)
  • Speaks admiringly of gangs and delinquent behaviour
  • Sudden shift in their social circle
  • Is rumored or known to be dating much older boys
  • Disruptive attitude, tends to bully others
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Participating High Schools in 2013-2014

  • Lester B. Pearson
  • Laurier Macdonald
  • John Paul 1
  • John F. Kennedy Rosemont
  • Marymount Academy

Thanks to Our Partners

  • English Montreal School Board
  • Batshaw Youth and Family Centres
  • Aspire Canadian Alliance Cultural Foundation
  • Service de police de la Ville de Montreal