Hero’s Journaling Project

Hero’s Journaling Project is an ongoing program since 2019, focusing on youth from immigrant families to find ways to reflect, express, and reframe the big changes in their lives through visual journaling. 

VOICES redefines the capacity of art in terms of education, self-expression, mental health, and social integration. VOICES’ In School programming addresses the inconsistent accessibility of art education in this region, empowering youth to feel seen and heard as who they are, celebrating where they come from, and who they aspire to be. 

The Hero’s Journaling Project illuminates immigrant youth’s lived experiences following the traditional four-part structure of the Hero’s Journey, “Ordinary World,” “The Journey,”  “Big Change,” and “The Future.” Through sharing these stories, youth are able to express significant experiences that often carry taboo, stigma, and silence. Youth find commonalities in their stories and connect with others who understand what they have gone through. When youth are put in a place to support and listen to their peers, it builds connection, compassion, and collective resilience. 

Art motivates, expresses, unites, and moves, especially in challenging and difficult times. Art is VOICES’ superpower. We hope to serve the youth in realizing their own potential in storytelling as a way to make sense of their world. We hope to aid in their growth as creative thinkers, and embolden them to use their creative power to communicate with their peers, their families, themselves, and the world. 

This project won an award! “GLENWOOD SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE IN STORYTELLING PROJECT”

Galería de Voces

Special Pandemic Project| PRIMAVERA/SPRING 2021

39 emerging bilingual and new immigrant students worked with VOICES teaching artist Arturo Williams for four weeks to express their Hero’s Journeys - stories of big change and transformation. Their stories were recorded and edited by the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program.