Creativity Shell Open House – 09/09/17 From 10AM – 2PM!

The Creativity Shell will be hosting an open house on Saturday, September 09, 2017 from 10AM – 2PM! Students will get an introductory sewing lesson from one of our talented instructors and parents will get the opportunity to learn more about the exciting opportunities the organization has planned for the 2017-2018 school year.

The Creativity Shell is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission to use creative trades to educate and inspire the next generation of makers. Our organization teaches sewing/textile arts classes to students in public libraries, schools and shelters that rescue children from homelessness and human trafficking. Sewing/textile arts classes are designed to educate and inspire children by teaching them essential life and practical skills.

Thirty years ago, home economics programs such as sewing, cooking and shop classes were a standard part of the education system. Today, most home economics programs have been removed from schools and many children are not learning these skills at home.

When the Creativity Shell began teaching sewing/textile arts classes however, they were faced with a larger crisis than initially imagined. One of the biggest challenges they encountered (and still do today) is the lack of practical skills among the students they teach. Students have difficulty utilizing fine motor skills to complete tasks such as tying knots, cutting fabrics and threading needles. Furthermore, the lack in their ability to use fine motor skills adds to extreme frustration, the inability to cope and poor problem solving / decision-making skills.

This is a new generation of children. Many of the things they were born into—fast Internet, cell phones, computers, tablets, Amazon Prime—were things that has been adopted by the older generation. Many of us adults have difficulty going without our modern technologies, but imagine what it’s like for the students who do not know anything else. Because of these combined factors, the Creativity Shell had to reengineer our sewing/textile arts classes and the way they were taught to better suit this current generation of students.

All of their projects are graded on items like problem solving, coping, decision-making, skill level, frustration, and gratification. (Beginner students for example, will receive an instant gratification project that has a zero level in problem solving, coping and decision-making. Junior students will make projects that are more time consuming and have an increased level in problem solving, coping and decision-making.) This method allows the organization to wean students off instant gratification while teaching them to make decisions with the items they are sewing and build their skill level while boosting their confidence.

The Creativity Shell Open house will be held at their studio at 1984 Monroe Avenue (right across the street from Twelve Corners Middle School). If you are planning to go to the Brighton Homecoming Parade, please stop in to say HELLO (and sew a little)!