Temporary LockDown - Illinois Youth Center, Chicago

The Temporary LockDown program brings storytelling, movement and drumming workshops to the young men incarcerated at Illinois Youth Center, Chicago (IYC-C).

Working in cooperative groups with Storycatchers teaching artists, participants meet twice a week to share and discuss their writing-looking for common themes and life challenges. In addition, they learn movement and theatrical techniques to support the performance of their written work.

Based on this collaborative experience, the young writers create composite characters, then outline and create an original musical play centered on those characters. By examining themselves as characters with a fixed, unchangeable past, Temporary LockDown participants grasp the power of their own decision-making skills by focusing on an open-ended, positively-affected future. This process reinforces their recognition of choices and consequences-enhancing their ability and desire to make choices that will lead to forward-looking outcomes.

Throughout the sessions, participants will set expectations and goals for themselves that help to reinforce the need for positive interactions with peers, staff and families.

ILLINOIS YOUTH CENTER
136 N WESTERN AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60612

Next Public Performances: TBD
All IYC-C visitors must go through a background check prior to each visit.