Programs & Approach
Mirror Image Arts utilizes Restorative Theatre™, positive youth development, culturally responsive teaching, healing-centered, trauma-informed and restorative approaches. We use theatre as a vehicle to understand social interactions and creates social context for youth to make meaning in a freedom to fail environment that teaches reasoning and social context through empathy. Studies have shown that a sense of belonging plays a crucial role in social development. We believe that humans are in a constant state of “becoming” and are committed to humanizing others and self for our collective growth in our interconnectedness and responsibility to each other.
Our methodology offers a space where participants' social-emotional growth is activated through creativity, imagination, problem-solving, and play. Youth have the ability to change their thoughts, feelings, behaviors and perceptions with every experience they encounter. We co-create moments where individuals and communities can process the challenges they experience, work towards possible shared solutions, explore who they are and who they want to become.
Our facilitators are skilled theatre makers, first aid mental health youth certified, with ongoing training in relevant evidence-based practices (positive youth development, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, healing-centered engagement, culturally responsive teaching, and restorative practices).
We use Restorative Theatre© to reach the following goals:
Provide youth a safe, caring relationship with a trusted adult.
Co-create spaces of belonging where youth AND youth-serving adults can build self-awareness, connection and empathy.
Offer youth-supported spaces where they can process their emotions, practice bold decision-making, and reflect on the results of their choices.
Role model for youth how resilience can be expressed so they can navigate difficult social situations and come back stronger.
Assist schools and youth detention centers in their move from punitive disciplinary practices toward positive youth development and healing-centered engagement.
We create impact and collective liberation through three areas of approach: Prevention, Intervention, and Reintegration.
Prevention: It Starts with Us
Creating cultures of belonging in Public Schools, Universities, and Libraries.
It Starts With Us is focused on promoting prevention through professional learning for adults serving youth, as well as early literacy. Our Early Literacy with Mo initiative strategically disrupts the pipeline to prison by emphasizing the critical role of early literacy in shaping a positive educational trajectory. This program is dedicated to fostering a love of reading among youth, using Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) as a valuable tool to enhance early literacy lessons. Our goal is to empower students not only with essential reading skills but also with emotional resilience and interpersonal abilities.Recognizing the importance of SEL for youth, this program aims to empower students with the emotional resilience and interpersonal abilities needed to navigate challenges and build positive relationships, contributing to a supportive and thriving school community.
Through consultation and theatre-based curriculum we provide professional development to youth-serving adults to impact whole-school and organizational culture in an effort to prevent youth from entering the criminal legal system. Theatre content is based on utilizing positive youth development, culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed care, and healing-centered engagement.
Professional Learning for adults who work with youth.
Restorative Theatre Certification
Early Literacy with Mo
Create It, Relate It
Selling/Training of Your Voice Curriculum
Legislation/Policy work
Intervention: Your Voice
Creating spaces of restoration in Detention Centers, Facility Schools, Alternative Schools, and Diversion Programs.
Your Voice is centered on intervention by providing direct services to youth. Through Your Voice we focus on creating spaces for healing and enabling infinite possibilities, ultimately fostering spaces for restoration. We offer Your Voice programming in a variety of settings, including DYS, facility schools, alternative schools, and diversion programs. Through this program we empower young people by offering support, healing, and opportunities for personal growth. Your Voice utilizes Restorative Theatre™ (RT) to help youth create theatre that helps them process the trauma, habits, and choices they currently embody. Through a deeper sense of self with newfound language, youth can strengthen self-agency, problem-solving, and decision-making.
My Curious Courage (2nd/3rd)
You, Me, WE (4th)
Finding Your Voice (5th)
Shaping Your Voice (6th-8th)
Your Voice Matters (9th-12th)
Your Story, Your Power
Legislation/Policy work
Reintegration: Brighter Future
Creating communities of transformation.
Our Brighter Future program is focused on reintegration for youth who have been involved with the legal system. Through our Brighter Future Center (opening July of 2024), we offer wraparound services, apprenticeship opportunities, community gatherings for families of impacted youth, and advocacy. Restorative Theatre™ remains a crucial aspect of this program, interweaving theatre with individual and community healing. The primary goal is to fully embrace and welcome youth back into society while creating communities of transformation.
For over 50 years, research has consistently shown that community-based programs are most effective in improving youths’ long-term outcomes—including reduced punitive school interventions, educational attainment, improved behavioral health, strengthened family functioning, and greater skill-building. Youth who receive services in their communities are able to maintain and even build connections to their families and other support systems, while also continuing to go to school, work, and other pro-social activities.
MIA Pre-apprentice/Apprenticeship Program
Wraparound Services for previously incarcerated youth
Healing circles* for guardians, siblings and previously incarcerated youth
Legislation/Policy Work
Are you interested in finding out more about our programs? Reach out to us at info@mirrorimagearts.org