TRIBAL RHYTHMS ® COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
2002-2003

CAI and 20 community after-school programs in Boston, Cambridge, Medford, Winthrop and Revere have joined forces to form the Tribal Rhythms Community Partnership. The partnership is based on Tribal Rhythms a process that uses the theme of "tribe" and the arts to build community and satisfy the human need to belong. This ongoing project employs an early intervention strategy that breaks the cycle of teen violence by reaching at-risk children (ages 5-12) before they become involved in negative peer-group behavior such as gang violence, drugs, and crime.

In the project, after school staff use Tribal Rhythms—Creating the Village: A Curriculum Guide for Creating Community with Children. This curriculum guide gives staff members a thematic framework for organizing activities and positive techniques for managing children's behavior. With daily use of Tribal Rhythms themes and activities, the children develop:
--greater self-esteem and confidence
--peaceful conflict resolution skills
--leadership and problem-solving skills
--multicultural understanding and positive peer-group relationships
--positive ways to express themselves through the arts

In addition, teachers develop relationships with staff from other sites while:
--learning new skills
--planning joint projects
--sharing ideas, information, activities and resources

Since the program began it has served approximately 6000 children (ages 5-12) and over 650 staff at: Archdale Community Center (Roslindale), Bird St. Community Center (Dorchester), Brookview House (Mattapan and Roxbury), Community Art Center (Cambridge), Ellis Memorial & Eldredge House (South End), For Kids-Only After School( 6 sites in Winthrop& Revere), Gallivan Community Center (Dorchester), Hawthorne Youth and Community Center (Roxbury), Jamaica Plain Community Center-Agassiz School, Madison Park Village After School (Roxbury), Manning After School Program (Jamaica Plain), Red Oak After School (Chinatown),Tobin Community Center (Mission Hill) and West Medford Community Center (West Medford).

To learn about the TRCP Banners Project, click here: Read the latest issue of Partners Newsletter.