Arts and Spiritual Development

Foundations of Spirituality

Taught by: David Melby-Gibbons

In this course, the teacher references the story “The Cracked Pot: A Story For Anyone Who's Not Quite Perfect”. Students will discuss the story of how a cracked pot's flaw turns out to be good and helpful quality. Students work on breaking and then putting back together a clay pot as a metaphor of healing and transformation.

Faith Development and Spiritual Formation

Taught by: Joseph Modica

This workshop will introduce the concept of faith as endemic to the human condition (“We are faith-ing all the time.”). It will also examine some basic faith development theories (James W. Fowler, John Westerhoff, Robert Coles, Carol Gilligan, Carol Lakey Hess, among others) and their contributions to the larger discussion of faith and spirituality. Main ideas to be presented include:

• Faith is a verb (versus a “noun,” namely viewed as an object); thus it is active, dynamic and synergistic.
• Spirituality (spiritual formation) enhances faith development.
• Faith development can be studied both quantitatively and qualitatively.
• Faith is developed in community (vis-à-vis relationships).

Virtues and Values for Children and Youth

Taught by: Geri Lynn Peak

Special guest lecturer teaches this course using the world renowned The Virtues Project™. Through interactive exercises, activities and lecture, participants will explore how the concept of virtues as universal, positive qualities of character support and learn how the Five Strategies of the Virtues Project tie into the Arts in Restorative Transformation framework.

Main ideas presented:

• An overview of the Five Strategies of the Virtues Project
• A focus on what we mean by virtues and what we mean by spiritual and how thetheory underlying how attention to virtues benefit individuals (as well as society).
• Interactive activities to help illustrate the first strategy: Speaking the language of Virtues
• Didactic and exploratory activities to illustrate linkages between ART and virtues

Main theories and concepts presented:

• the importance of virtues/character qualities from a spiritual and mental health frame
• distinction between virtues and values
• benefit of a virtues framework for working with young people integration of virtues with ART framework

Definitions:

• The Virtues Project™ : A system of Five Strategies designed to help people practice and refine their virtues and focus on what’s best by naming virtues in themselves and others.