Let’s talk: Using art to bridge the intergenerational communication gap between the elders and youth at Grant Chapel AME Church in Birmingham, Alabama, 2018

Art therapy is a proven tool to assist those in crisis. Art therapy can be used to bring out the pain and fears of a person in a healthy manner causing them the least setbacks in their recovery. As Black churches begin to address the needs of their congregation, the hope is that the relational needs of the people will be supported. The pastor can’t do it all; the servant leader must entrust the “priesthood of all believers” to come together and do their part while attending to one another. About this project, a servant leader is one who stands side by side with the congregation in the process of doing ministry. As a servant leader, I come to serve others. I believe because of the right teaching in art therapy, the youth that attended Grant Chapel AME church learned a skill that served them in various situations. The intention of this project (overall) was directed to building collegiality and harmony in the day to day conversation. It is my theory that if the energy of young adults could be channeled into the performing or visual arts, then they would have an outlet to redirect their frustrations, thus developing them into leaders within the vichurch and society. Qualitative analytical research and a focus group discussion informed the results of this research project. The goal of this project is to organize caring youth and adults within the church who have a desire, to open the lines of intergenerational communication. Because of their engagement, both groups were intentional about the use of tone with which they responded to their peers. Both youth and elders exhibited humility and a less argumentative tone as they engaged in conversation. As the project proceeded, both adults and elders requested additional opportunities of enrichment. Art therapy is a proven tool to assist those in crisis. Art therapy can be used to bring out the pain and fears of a person in a healthy manner causing them the least setbacks in their recovery. As Black churches begin to address the needs of their congregation, the hope is that the relational needs of the people will be supported. The pastor can’t do it all; the servant leader must entrust the “priesthood of all believers” to come together and do their part while attending to one another. About this project, a servant leader is one who stands side by side with the congregation in the process of doing ministry. As a servant leader, I come to serve others. I believe because of the right teaching in art therapy, the youth that attended Grant Chapel AME church learned a skill that served them in various situations. The intention of this project (overall) was directed to building collegiality and harmony in the day to day conversation. It is my theory that if the energy of young adults could be channeled into the performing or visual arts, then they would have an outlet to redirect their frustrations, thus developing them into leaders within the church and society. Qualitative analytical research and a focus group discussion informed the results of this research project. The goal of this project is to organize caring youth and adults within the church who have a desire, to open the lines of intergenerational communication. Because of their engagement, both groups were intentional about the use of tone with which they responded to their peers. Both youth and elders exhibited humility and a less argumentative tone as they engaged in conversation. As the project proceeded, both adults and elders requested additional opportunities of enrichment