Knox Presbyterian Church was awarded a 2019 Community Engagement Grant through the Commission on Reconciliation. Sarah Walker and Charese Jordan Moore worked with Gail Danik of the Dawson Safe Haven Center (named for the Dawson family whose home was firebombed as retaliation for reporting drug activity) to plan the YouSPEAK after school program in response to children’s concerns about bullying.
This eight-week, 16 session program is being presented to students from our community school, Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary, in collaboration with the Baltimore Center Stage, Young Playwrights Festival and The Drama Workshop/Bully-Proof. Children are getting interactive instruction on topics such as respect, empathy, peer pressure, and coping skills, among others. The students will follow up the instruction by expressing themselves through drama, art, music, dance, and writing.
YouSPEAK will culminate with the children presenting a play and displaying what they have created through the arts on March 31st at Knox for their families, community members, and church members. All are invited.
