Good Questions

The national Youth-At-Risk Conference has gathered for just about two decades in Savannah, Georgia. My wife and I have just returned from that conference where we invited others to “Champion Young Artists” and join their energies with the National Creative Society by forming an NCS chapter.

This annual conference brings together adult professionals from many disciplines, different states, and even a few other countries. It provides a great learning context with inspiring and helpful formal presentations; provocative conversations, and the opportunity to raise good questions. A good question is always a far better way to open toward true learning and creative solutions than is a pat answer. Ask good questions!

The dynamic, opening, keynote speaker raised a good question that has been around this conference for several years. She asked, why not change the Conference’s official name to “Children-of-Promise” or, “Children-of- Genius”? That good question refocuses participants’ perspectives through the lens of promise rather than problem and it is more likely to open toward the needed patience and power to change situations.

It is also a fact, as the outstanding research of the Search Institute in Minneapolis regarding the needed “40 Developmental Assets” has shown, that it is all youth in our country who are “at-risk” and not just some from certain locales or socio-economic groupings. (See the link in the article below to this research or find it posted on our website.) “At-Risk” may thus, set a “mind-trap” that is limiting. A good question may help snap a trap!

No matter how named, this conference seeks to address issues that have always been with us and whose negative symptoms show themselves in young lives. Chief among the issues is broken family structures. An earlier article in this e-zine series celebrated the insights of Stephen Schwartz’s dramatic musical, Children of Eden and the vital role our families of origin play. (See our archived articles at www.nationalcreativesociety.org.)

Still, whether we would choose to quote a nursery rhyme, “There was an old woman, Who lived in a shoe; She had so many children, She didn’t know what to do…..” or, to sing the lyrics from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice) with its theme of favoritism and sibling rivalry, our families falter—and always have.

As parents, children, and teachers, we need back-up systems and people to bring new support. We need models and mentors all across our life-span. One of the clearest themes of this year’s conference presentations (and past years as well) is that people are able to change perspectives, behaviors, and life situations to the degree that they are inspired-to and supported through these changes.

That’s what mentoring provides: inspiration and supportive encouragement and feedback. That, also, is the intention and mission of the National Creative Society: to serve as a catalyst to gather young artists, their parents, teachers, and other mentors into locally-led chapters that group like-minded folks across the nation to share “best-practices” and resources toward a common, beauty-bringing mission!

So, let’s end this week’s article with some good questions, whatever your role, life-stage, and situation. 1) Am I currently getting results in my life that are satisfying, productive, and fruitful? Or, am I “stuck” in some way? 2) Would I benefit from having a coach or mentor at this time in my life? 3) Am I willing to be held accountable for new directions and life goals I would set? 4) Is it a time in my life when I am able and willing to mentor others? 5) Can I see that forming a local chapter of the National Creative Society might bring resources together to collaborate creatively to aid me and others?

All good questions! Your responses may make a world of difference—at least two lives at a time!

Creatively and Carefully,
Charles E. Reichel