The Essence of Jayce
We curate educational and therapeutic activities through recreation in the park for families with children who have special needs or disabilities; we call them Designed Differently Warriors.
About the project
The Essence of Jayce had our inaugural event: “Fun In Fall Festival” on October 10th, 2020. We curated a Halloween event for our Designed Differently Warriors and families to experience some solace from their restricted year of the lockdown. The costumed event included: painting a canvas “paint something in the park that makes you happy”; a Halloween scavenger hunt for school supplies; pumpkin decorating; jewelry making; games, dancing and sanitizing stations.
With our Designed Differently Warriors and their families still trying to recover from all quarantine related isolation and pandemic restrictions, we felt it was necessary that our next event focus on their mental health, nutrition, and wellness. The Zen Garden Event will teach them therapeutic techniques through Meditation and Yoga: creating the connection between their mind, their bodies, and their environment. They will creatively express and utilize the tools learned in their daily activities.
The Steps
With this funding we will be able to extend our services to more families with Warriors who were Designed Differently. Services will be instructional, social, behavioral, emotional support and recreational activities afterschool and during the weekend in Bedford- Stuyvesant/Ocean Hill Community.
Our activities are designed to provide young children with the tools necessary for an acknowledged life enriched with the confidence to become resourceful, making essential contributions to our society and establish a way of living. Using multiple therapeutic interventive measures, we will work to identify each child's needs, providing a safe, inclusive, supportive environment with community guidance and acceptance.
Why we‘re doing it
The Essence of Jayce addresses the lack of services provided to young minority Designed Differently Warriors. We strive to fill the gap so that ALL children have the necessary skills to thrive. We want to continue to support our Designed Differently Warriors and provide resources for their families. Many of the minority youth in Brooklyn do not have access to beneficial physical activity outside of the limited school PE and possible therapy sessions. Being physically active boosts verbal memory, develops gross motor skills, while enhancing leadership and communication skills through social interactions.
the future
The Essence of Jayce’s current challenge is lack of daily/weekly indoor operational space during the winter months to provide Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy. Our plan is to create more one-on-one activities for children with cognitive challenges by utilizing their community: Art the Park: creating art using the park as inspiration; Community Zen Garden: we cover gardening, nature, and nutrition; Game & Movie Parties: day/evening “parties” for game and movie night. Mediation & Yoga: accessing ways to connect to their environment Mind, Body & Spirit; and Book Mobile: where we hold Storytime and Book giveaways for the children in the community once a month.