CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF MEDFIELD DBA BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER
CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF MEDFIELD DBA BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER
CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF MEDFIELD DBA BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER
Programs
Reaching Into Medfield
CAM worked with SPOKE, Medfield Outreach, Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP), and students from Medfield High School to raise awareness and change the stigma surrounding mental health care, serving as a foundation for substance abuse prevention. The question “What issues need to be addressed in Medfield?” was posed to the students, and was reflected upon through prompted conversations and writing exercises in poetry and spoken word. After considering the issues of social pressure, substance abuse, and racial injustice in their town, the group recognized that all of these were rooted in mental health, and ultimately chose this overarching problem as the topic for their project. The group came upon four benches that were awkwardly, sporadically spread out on the grounds. These benches – this manifestation of being in conversation with others and fostering connection – became the focus of the project. “These benches here are the same ones many people had to sit on during their most difficult times [at the Medfield State Hospital]. We hope our repurposing of these benches gives people a space to be themselves,” said one of the Medfield High School students. Under SPOKE’s project leadership, the benches were redone with mosaic slats that contain inspirational words related to mental health from their poetry exercises: “fearless,” “resilient,” “hopeful for world’s strength,” and “bravery.” In the refurbishment process, the original wood of the benches was discovered to be purple heart rainforest wood – a beauty that would have never been revealed without the love, labor, and thought poured into this project. On the benches, QR codes were placed that have links to videos made by the students explaining the project, suicide hotlines, and other services that those in need of mental health support could utilize. “Today, we see mental health as a common focus in our lives, and something that we shouldn’t feel is a foreign topic. Instead of avoiding and pushing away the all-too-important issue we have on our hands, we have made great steps toward giving people the resources they need to heal. We still have large steps to make in our battle with mental health, but let this place be a source of hope for how far we have come,” said another of the Medfield High School students. The success of this project will act as a catalyst for future youth-led programs, as Medfield Outreach is newly inspired to create a youth coalition that will lead their prevention efforts.GeographiesChapel St, Medfield, MA 02052, USADatesNot indicatedSourceUser-generatedAddiction servicesAdolescents15$10K
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