2nd Annual Cope Weekend Series
Three day experience exposing youth and their families to healthy coping through artistic expression and body movement in a community garden setting
Leader
Laylah Allen
Location
152nd & Imperial Ave Cleveland, OH 44120
About the project
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.
The Steps
May 2nd - June 1st
- Solicit donations (via private link) from immediate family members, close friends, and dedicated community supporters, with goal of 35%
- Develop Campaign Marketing Plan (social media and newsletter)
- Confirm workshop instructors and event volunteers
- Form COPE Weekend Planning Committee
- Identify additional event sponsors
- Confirm Resource Fair Vendors
June 2nd - July 17th
- Set up three school supply donation drop-off sites (on July 2nd)
- Push promo campaign
August 1st
- Purchase Coping Box materials
- Secure media coverage
August 7th-13th
- Purchase food, workshop materials, tent/chair rentals, additional school supplies
- Pick up school supply donations from drop-off sites
August 14th - 18th
- Facilitate three building workshops to create Art Kits, Coping Boxes, and stuffed backpacks
August 19-21st
- Host Cope Weekend Event
Why we‘re doing it
Our goal is to recreate this impact but on a larger scale, servicing 100+ Cleveland youth this year. COPE Weekend compliments our program, Project Coping Box, which assists youth (and their families) in navigating emotions of loneliness, stress, anxiety, anger, and more due to social isolation brought on by COVID-19:
- Exposing youth to 10+ healthy coping mechanisms
- Providing healthy coping mechanisms to replace unhealthy coping patterns
- Enabling youth to determine which coping mechanisms are ideal for their personality
- Encouraging parents and families to openly discuss emotions