The Expansion of ARTS’ Juvenile Diversion Initiative Workshops
In 2024, ARTS, in partnership with the San Diego County District Attorney's Office and the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC), was one of several organizations in San Diego County to pilot the Juvenile Diversion Initiative (JDI). The program aims to reduce the number of youth ages 12 to 17 entering the juvenile justice system by addressing harmful behaviors and providing them the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions through restorative justice practices.
“The students can show up and benefit from it not only in a justice factor but also by being given the opportunity to see and learn new skills that could potentially spark a creative interest or even a career choice down the line.”
In 2024, ARTS successfully conducted workshops for over 100 system-impacted youth across the South Bay, hosting 21 Saturday sessions that allowed participants to engage with various artistic mediums and learn new creative skills. These workshops focused on skills such as printmaking, using industry-standard tools like Procreate, the basics of music creation with digital tools like GarageBand, and various other artistic techniques.
“JDI at ARTS provides systems-impacted youth the opportunity to learn new skills, get in touch with their artistic sides, and learn more about themselves and their communities in a safe and welcoming environment.”
With the successes of 2024, ARTS is excited about the future of JDI workshops. In 2025, ARTS plans to expand the offerings to include Teaching Artists from all our programs and introduce new workshops featuring fresh creative skills. Some workshops will cover abstract styles using paint markers, plushie making, paper mache techniques, an introduction to podcasting, and more.
With this new set of workshops, ARTS will continue to provide a safe space for youth across the South Bay to learn creative skills and build confidence.
