HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND HISPANIC YOUTH
In the Spring of 2009, Portraits of Survival and Collaborative Communities Foundation embarked on a groundbreaking pilot program linking local Hispanic youth with Holocaust survivors. The six-week program, "Mis Tres Caras/My Three Faces/Shalosha Panim," begins with dialogue between the two groups about their personal stories—past, present and future. The youth then offer their own personal stories of survival in the face of adversity through depictions in visual, performance and other creative arts.

"Mis Tres Caras" builds on Portraits of Survival programs, where visitors hear survivors' first-hand accounts of their Holocaust experiences. They visit the interactive photography exhibit depicting the stories of 38 local survivors through narratives and archival images. "Mis Tres Caras" deepens the experience, enabling young people to form relationships and have discussions with survivors, while creating an artistic personal response. The goal is to empower young people to make positive, healthy choices in their lives and in their connections to community.

The art, music, film, and performance created as a result of the participants' encounter with Holocaust survivors was featured at an Opening Reception and program on June 28, at the Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center.

Materials, space and project facilitation for our first session were provided by Art From Scrap and the project was filmed by Life Chronicles.

Sunday, June 28, 2009
Click here to read the SB News Press article
about the closing event.

Survivor Presenters and Facilitators: Erika Kahn, Stan Ostern, Regine Pringle, Maria Segal.
Portraits Committee Facilitators: Joyce Brock, Cecia Hess, Dr. Ursula Mahlendorf, Bruce Phillips, Fran Piacente, Maxine Prisyon.

Survivors and youth share stories

AN UNLIKELY PAIR
By Joyce Brock
Portraits of Survival Commitee member

Who would imagine that pairing Holocaust survivors with at-risk youth would promote a meaningful and transformative encounter to help combat the gang-related violence, and facilitate a sense of "belonging" for the youth in a positive and meaningful way? That is exactly what is happening at our Jewish Federation.

The Holocaust survivors tell their stories and show what hate and violence has done in their lives and how these youths can take these lessons into their community's to help eliminate some of the violence in our beautiful city. As a volunteer who has given her time to many worthwhile causes I must say this is the most exciting program I have ever been privileged to work in and see first-hand how successful it has become.

In May we started a six-week program bringing in 15 at-risk youth to meet with the Survivors, exchange their stories, and then let them express themselves through a fine arts program. They can choose any media they are comfortable with to share their stories, and we will furnish the tools. We will film this experiment from start to finish.

With your support we can continue this important work. My question is "How could you not support such an amazing, worthwhile program? When you send in your donation please give us your email address so we can send you photos and progress reports on this new six week program. You deserve to share in our excitement.
Click here to donate. 

My Three Faces/Mis Tres Caras/Shalosha Panim
CORE Girls Group, March-May 17 2010
PROGRAM FINALE May 17, 2010
PHOTOS

On the heels of a successful pilot program pairing Holocaust survivors with at-risk youth, Portraits expanded to collaborate with other community organizations reaching out to these youth. The latest 10-week program included Santa Barbara Jr. High CORE girls.
The program promotes transformative encounters through the arts, aimed at decreasing gang-related violence, and facilitating positive community engagement and belonging for at-risk youth.
The girls heard stories from Holocaust survivors, met with volunteer mentors for continued discussions and artistic endeavors.

Portraits of Survival and Mis Tres Caras presented at national conference
in Los Angeles on April 11, 2010
Dr. Elizabeth Wolfson presented "Holocaust Survivors and Gang Members: An Unlikely Pair," at the annual national conference of Jewish Family Service agencies in Los Angeles on April 11, for professionals and lay leaders. Joining her was Maria Segal, retired social worker and Holocaust survivor. The presentation is part of a forum on Innovative Approaches with Underserved Populations. More info