We are disrupting the pipeline to prison through Restorative Theatre™.
Mirror Image Arts™ is a Youth Advocacy organization disrupting the Pipeline to Prison through Restorative Theatre. We bring Restorative Theatre™ to youth and youth serving adults in schools, community organizations, and detention centers. We create spaces of belonging and healing while deepening social emotional well-being. Our work is the collective liberation of all.
“I feel like my confidence has grown. When I first came in I didn’t want to talk but now I am ready to share my voice.” - Youth Participant
“I am confident in being me in this class because MIA makes me feel heard and important.” - Youth Participant
What is Restorative Theatre™
Restorative Theatre offers a space where participants' social-emotional growth is activated through creativity, imagination, problem-solving, and play. Our facilitators are skilled theatre makers, first aid mental health youth certified, with ongoing training in relevant evidence-based practices.
Through Restorative Theatre™…
youth have the ability to expand their thoughts, feelings, behaviors and perceptions with every experience they encounter.
we activate 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.
we incorporate the Readiness Competencies as described by the Colorado Department of Education.
Your Voice
Brighter Future
It Starts With Us
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Creating spaces of restoration in Public Schools, Alternative Schools, and Out of School Time (Rec Centers, Libraries, Boys & Girls Club).
Your Voice is centered on Youth Development. Through Your Voice we focus on creating spaces for healing and enabling infinite possibilities, ultimately fostering spaces for restoration. 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.
Early Literacy with Mia (Kindergarten-1st grade)
My Curious Courage (2nd/3rd grades)
You, Me, WE (4th grade)
Finding Your Voice (5th grade)
Shaping Your Voice (6th-8th grades)
Your Voice Matters (9th-12th grades)
“Members who normally don't spend time together were able to come into this group space and feel safe enough to try new things and share what was on their minds." - Dartmouth Elementary
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Creating communities of transformation in Facility Schools, Detention Centers, Diversion. Division of Youth Services, and Re-entry.
Our Brighter Future program is focused on Restorative Theatre™ for youth who have been involved with the legal system. We weave Restorative Theatre™ and restorative practices together. This empowers youth to take control of their story and avoid the harms of the criminal legal system. Restorative Theatre is rooted in evidence-based pedagogy that combines somatic play, storytelling, and restorative practices to create spaces of belonging that deconstruct harm, promote healing, and transform communities. It’s centered in Social-Emotional Learning and empowers youth and their supporters. Trauma-Informed Care and Positive Youth Development are core elements. Programming is tailored to align with the social-emotional developmental needs and adapted to suit specific needs of each group.
Facility Schools
Diversion
Division of Youth Services
Re-entry
Youth Quotes:
"MIA has been a great experience... I grew as a person by trying something new and taking down that barrier I once had."
"You have taught me how to recognize my emotions when I get escalated."
"I feel so grateful your program chose our pod... I felt safe with the group because I could be myself."
"I grew and learned to put more effort into things even when I didn’t always feel like it."
"What encouraged me the most was knowing I wasn’t being judged by the people around me."
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It Starts With Us is focused on professional learning for adults serving youth. Through consultation and theatre-based curriculum we provide professional development. Youth serving adults explore play as a tool for healing, belonging, and building authentic student relationships. Through our PD, adults serving youth practice techniques of transformational conflict and curiosity to build intentional and supportive cultures rooted in evidence-based approaches: Nervous System Regulation, Positive Youth Development, Trauma-Informed Care, Healing-Centered Engagement, Culturally Responsive Teaching, and Restorative Justice.
Youth Serving Adults
Restorative Theatre™ Certificate
Training & Workshops for communities, organizations, businesses.
“It was wonderful working with you and it was easily the best training we have received all year.”
“I feel confident and excited to show students that it’s okay to take a moment."
"I appreciated that practitioners voiced the skills we were working on; this helped me with the Why for my students."
"I feel like I know how to better support and ask for support from others."
“Recognizing others as humans with their own stories... is something I want to practice better with my team."
Restorative Theatre™ 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.
