BRL Pilots Rap Therapy in SF

SENECA – CONNECTIONS PROGRAM

BRL has been looking to bring its range of programming to San Francisco County for some time. We are excited to announce a new collaboration between BRL and San Francisco Connections, a branch of Seneca Center for Children and Families, a leading innovator in the field of community-based and family-focused treatment services for children and families.

The BRL/Seneca Rap Therapy program aims at using hip hop as a catalyst for change and development while embodying the core values of group therapy and youth development. This 15 week program is currently running twice a week and utilizes narrative therapy, group theory and youth development concepts to guide the participants through the process of making a rap music that reflects their life experiences. This program currently serves 7 youth between 13-19 years of age and has participants of all skill sets and experience. Many of the youth that find their way to our program may or may not have a strong affiliation with Hip Hop but often enjoy writing journals, poetry or raps. They may make beats, listen to music or sing. Others enjoy interviewing, mentoring or promoting events. Others are just looking for a space to belong.

BRL staff has worked tirelessly to bring Beats, Rhymes and Life to the Seneca Connections community, to the great fortune of those how have been able to participate. This group has provided a forum for artistic expression, identity formulation, skill building, personal growth, witnessing, connection, and recognition that many of the youth involved have never had the opportunity to experience.

- Jill Mason Director, Seneca Connections

Below are some of the accomplishments made through our Rap Therapy Program at Seneca Center in preparation for this collaboration.

• Provided two day workshop for 25 HSA/ Juvenile Justice Youth during Seneca Center Summer Day Camp (Summer 2010).
• Led 6 day Hip Hop Therapy training for Seneca Staff (Nov 2010).
• Built BRL Music Studio at Seneca Connections Site (Dec 2010).
• Recruited two BRL Alumni to serve as paid interns for Winter program
• Collaboration with community based agency, “City Youth Now”, to provide educational stipends for BRL youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System.

In the future BRL plans on integrating a comprehensive youth development program for the youth of San Francisco County. This program will run in coordination with the Youth Guidance Center, San Francisco Unified School District and local not for profit agencies such as Seneca Center for youth and Families.