Art may soothe the savage beast, as the saying goes, but can it get through to teen-agers?
Artist Ed Massey believes it can. Massey and his brother, Bernie, both of Beverly Hills, are helping spearhead an award-winning program that uses art to bring social responsibility and self-expression to students throughout California.
Their YouTHink program, currently used in more than 30 school districts, has been acclaimed as an innovative way to use art as a vehicle for discussing social issues, including Jewish identity and tikkun olam.
YouTHink was co-developed by the Masseys’ Center for American Studies and Culture and Esther Netter, executive director of My Jewish Discovery Place Children’s Museum of Jewish Community Centers of Greater Los Angeles. Originally offered to all school-age groups by teachers and instructors, it is now being taught in corporate and community settings as well.
