There was a person who made a circle to keep me out,
so I made a circle to include us both.
TRIBAL RHYTHMS® HOMEPAGE
Tribal Rhythms is a process that uses the theme of "tribe"
and the arts to build community and satisfy the human need to belong
by creating inclusive, nurturing learning environments in school
and a variety of community settings. This process builds community
among relative strangers by developing an elementary culture complete
with shared values, symbols, decision-making, and ceremonies. The
goal is not to recreate the culture of any society, past or present,
but to engage participants in fundamental culture-making activities
which result in their creating their own group identity and common
bonds. Teachers throughout New England, and across the country,
are creating Learning Tribes using the Tribal Rhythms curriculum
to improve students' social skills and academic achievement. The
Tribal Rhythms Program was developed by Cooperative Artists Institute
(CAI) in 1970 to provide a strategy for addressing the many urgent
problems resulting from the family fragmentation, racial and social
isolation, poverty, and loss of community brought on by the social
and economic changes in contemporary American society.
"The developers of the Tribal Rhythms Program have created
original and powerful tools for helping children be their most human
and humane. This program is built on a deep understanding of children's
abilities and interests. The clear and easily do-able activities
foster important feelings, skills, and values for living in a more
caring way in a diverse, democratic society."
-- Freda Rebelsky, Ph.D., Ret. Professor of Developmental Psychology,
Boston University
Learn more about our rationale and philosophy:
THE PROBLEM (click here)
THE SOLUTION (click here)