Support Systems-Building Relationships with Students in Residential Treatment

Jenn Cohen | January 1, 2013 | 0 Comments

by Andre Hallman (DJ SYMPL), Youth On Record

Hello, my name is Andre Hallman. My growth from childhood to adulthood was not the most pleasant experience. The main reason for that is I did not have support systems growing up. As my life was going on, I was at the point of giving up–it wasn’t worth fighting a battle I had already lost. Then a light at the end of the tunnel called Youth On Record changed all that for me. As I got more and more involved and started to invest more into this program, my life altered 360 degrees; Flobots.org not only took me in as one of their own, but they gave me support in every way a person could imagine. The fact that something that simple can help alter someone’s life is astonishing.

I have been teaching with Nathan Schmit (Program Director of Flobots.org and founder of Youth on Record) in classrooms for about a year now, and I have seen some of the most tragic things. These young souls have seen and been through things that an “average person” hasn’t, or only sees in the news. At the same time, I have seen amazing things happen because we build trust with these kids–they know that they can rely on us. For example, they know when we will be there, on time, ready to rock; they know that if we say we are going to do something, we get it done every time. And most importantly, we don’t ask them to do anything that we are not equally willing to do ourselves. It’s a struggle, but the reward outweighs it every time. The fact that they know that some one out there does care and will be there as a support system, one that is strengthened by the power of music, means everything to them.

Support systems are the main key to the success of this program. From being a student of Youth On Record, to interning with them, I’ve been able to witness what this kind of work does for our youth, and it is unbelievable. I think that if there were more programs like this in place, it would make a big difference. These successes are all because of the people that work and volunteer for Flobots.org, and I owe them an endless thank you for that, because it changed me as well.

Youth On Record, a program of Flobots.org, teaches music production and lyric writing in residential treatment centers across Denver and beyond, as a means of supporting their specific treatment goals. It is truly amazing what many young people will do and say when given the opportunity.

About Flobots.org-Founded in 2007 by the internationally known Denver based hip-hop collective Flobots, Flobots.org connects underserved youth across Colorado with music and empowerment education. Led by a network of professional musicians, artists and educators, Flobots.org programs are designed to harness the power of music and those who love it.