The Missing Link, C.O.P.E., Inc. is a 501c3 organization providing mental and emotional supports to underserved communities in Cleveland and surrounding suburbs. COPE Weekend was created in 2021 as a means of helping Cleveland-area students prepare to transition back to in-person learning after nearly two years of virtual learning. Last year, we empowered 50+ Cleveland youth to improve communication skills, build self-confidence, and adopt healthy ways of coping with life’s daily stressors before returning to school. During this free, three-day event (in which all supplies and materials will be provided), students learned various methods of healthy coping through physical movement & artistic expression, connected with grassroots organizations providing support through the school year, and given school supplies and Coping Boxes. 

Day One of COPE Weekend is combined culture, arts, and wellness. Students participate in a haiku workshop and use materials in their art kits to create art that represents their words and emotions. This workshop prompts discussion about the importance of seeing and creating beauty around us as a means of dealing with big emotions and connecting with others.

*A Coping Box is a physical container that holds items that guide youth with calming and/or expressing emotions. The coping box is a means of ensuring that youth have access to healthy coping mechanisms at their finger tips.