The Swan Within: Healing Through Ballet Fundraiser
Your contribution will be able to help us in the development of our much needed programs.
The Swan Within organization is at the forefront of therapeutic engagement and mental health rehabilitation for young people who have been victimized through trafficking, gang involvement, and sexual exploitation. Using the principles of ballet, we help survivors achieve healing and create new possibilities in their lives.
“Swan Within embraces and welcomes all youth, especially populations that have witnessed or experienced abuse or neglect. Swan Within’s trauma-informed, arts based approach to youth development and diversion strives to give participants the tools they need to begin to recover from the scars left behind by exploitation and violence.”
- Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, Los Angeles Second District
We serve the most vulnerable in our community, including LGBTQ and crossover youth, who have been systematically overlooked and underserved. Using a trauma-informed approach, our program instills confidence, self-discipline, and self-worth, preparing participants to reclaim their power and make positive choices in their lives.
Over the past year since we have been providing young, incarcerated teens with ballet classes including attire and equipment, education, emotional support, mentoring and performances. Many of these young women come from broken or abusive homes and our program is a haven that provides self-confidence, expression, exposure to art, positivity and strength.
“We congratulate you on your selection as one of our 2019 Pioneer Women of the Year! The annual Pioneer Women of the Year Awards honor leaders who champion gender equality in our City. This Award is the City’s opportunity to say THANK YOU.”
- Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Council
This is only made possible through the generous funding we have received from members of our community and kind donors nationwide.
“The tactic of exploiting a child isn’t just in the hood. It isn’t just about swiping a child.”-Meredith Harper Houston
Swan Within Curriculum Virtual Learning:
This has been a plan for a while but Covid has only increased its need of creation and implementation. Our app will expand our impact and reach nationally to even more juvenile halls and youth residential treatment programs that will effectively impart our UCLA Department of Pediatric & Psychology appraised curriculum in a remote learning format. Our app is a three prong format that will certify instructors with our trauma informed therapeutic ballet approach, client-side access to our entire curriculum which includes video demonstration/academic programing which is useful for the teachers and students alike, and an aftercare component for our participants who graduate to continue with their training outside of the juvenile hall system and integrating into life skills preventing re-entry into the prison system.
Even if we do not reach our goal it will allow us to at the very least, plant the seeds and put us in the direction for this progressive implementation. Anything in excess will only help us to better execute our mission and vision as we adjust to these difficult times times.
“Your class allows me to feel more connected with myself mentally and spiritually. I feel beautiful, like I’m more than a girl in jail learning from the mistakes that brought me here."
- Youth Participant
Your charitable support will be highly appreciated by us and the young women that we provide services to. If you have any queries, questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to visit our official site https://www.swanwithin.org/ to see more about our mission.