ReWired for Life!

ReWired for Life! is a life skills, violence prevention and self-esteem building program that uses media, resource activities, and the arts as tools for personal transformation. Initially the HBO hit series “The Wire”, was used as a teaching tool where students view, analyze and discuss various episodes, while thinking about the implications of the themes in their lives. ReWired for Life! participants are youth, ages 14-21, who have recently been released from the juvenile system, or are at risk of being placed in the system. Through various interactive lesson plans, participants learn the value of self-reflection and the necessity of thinking critically about their life choices, family and community relationships, and how to use the best of themselves to succeed in life and change the world around them.

Pilot Program

The ReWired For Life! pilot program was initially designed as a 3 module program that begins by guiding troubled youth in understanding the importance of thinking critically about their lives. Through participating in a series of skillfully guided, thought provoking discussions tied into clips from “The Wire,” the first module leads students on an exploration of their life choices and how those choices have positively and negatively affected them and their families and vice versa. When young people can see how the actions of others affected their lives and circumstances, they can begin to understand the root causes of their choices and see that they are a part of an inteconnected whole — and how their actions and choices reverberate far beyond their own personal lives.

The second module builds upon the development of those skills and fresh awarenesses, as participants turn their newly sharpened critical eye on the issues and challenges that face their communities and cities. They learn what community and city means to each of them and how public institutions do and do not serve them, culminating in a deeper knowlege of the world they inhabit.

The final module focuses on civic engagement. Once the participants have begun to attain a more intimate knowledge of themselves, their familes and their communities, they are prepared to move forward and put that knowledge to work by participating in a more project focused class built around service and finding ways to affect change in their worlds and society as whole.

Self expression through the arts is also vial part of the RWFL! program. A journey of transformation begins as an inside job first. Many young people find it easier to express themselves and conduct a deeper self exploration through poetry, performance and visual art. Instruction in these areas helps students’ evolving perspectives to take root allowing them to make an even deeper investment in the change they seek to make in their lives.

Development

After piloting the ReWired For Life! program for two years, we are finally ready to take what we learned and develop the Official ReWired For Life! Curriculum. We began with the assistance of the Baltimore non-profit, Parks to People who first connected us to the UMD School of Social Work where we held our first classes. We ended Module one pilot sessions working with Youth Opportunity! Baltinore in East Baltimore. We are greatly indebted to them both for the valuable support and assistance they offered to the ReWired For Life! Program during the pilot phase.

Keep and eye out for an exciting announcement next month, as we announce our newest partners in the development of the Official RWFL! Program Curriculum!

Would you like to support the RWFL! Program Development Effort?

Latavia’s Story

Latavia is just one of many young people who have had to live through extremely traumatic circumstances – overexposed to violence and abuse in their communities and overburdened with the responsiblity of fending for themselves and others before they become full fledged adults, young people with few tools and little support are suffering across the country everyday. Although we have not heard from Latavia since the pilot ended, we honor and remember her and all RWFL! participants through the development of the final curriculum. We are working hard to make their time, effort and journeys with us worthwhile by doing our part to make sure troubled youth who have been or are in danger of being incarcerated have resources and are not forgotten and thrown away. Please join us in our effort — volunteer to mentor troubled youth in your community TODAY!