YWCA Tri-County Area, Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center team up for youth learning project
Emotions Unboxed:
YWCA Tri-County Area, Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center team up for youth learning project, exhibit
Original art created by youth from YWCA Tri-County Area’s prevention programs will be on display at the Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center in September.
Emotions Unboxed, created by seven youth participating in YW Club Connect’s summer camp in July, depicts various emotions using recycled cardboard. This project gave youth a unique opportunity to explore emotions and healthy decision making, a key concept in prevention education. Campers wanted to encourage other youth to learn more about resiliency and emotions. The youths’ art and the exhibit will encourage those visiting the Children’s Discovery Center to learn, connect, and reflect on the power of emotions.
The Children’s Discovery Center will exhibit the youths’ masks beginning with a public launch on Saturday, September 6.
The mask-making art project is a service learning project within the drug and alcohol prevention curriculum to help youth stay in touch with and manage their emotions, and to provide an outlet for youth to contribute to their communities in positive ways, said Kristie Piacine, YW’s vice president of program advancement. As youth explore their emotions, they become more resilient and better able to make healthy decisions.
“We were committed to giving youth the opportunity to understand that they can make a difference,” Piacine said. “Collaborating with the Discovery Center allows youth to share what they learned with us on a larger scale. They feel pride in being peer educators in their own community.”
“We were thrilled to collaborate with the YWCA’s prevention program students on this meaningful art initiative. It’s a powerful way to help young people express their emotions and make positive choices. I know our families will be inspired by the creativity and may even feel encouraged to explore their own emotional journeys.” —Beth Desch, Executive Director of PCDC
Through projects like this, children and families are not only given tools for emotional expression, but also a safe space to connect, reflect, and grow together. The artwork created is more than just visual—it’s a testament to resilience, empathy, and the power of collaboration.
YW Club Connect, supported by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Montgomery County, is a six-week educational program that offers age-appropriate skill building surrounding drug and alcohol prevention. Youth gain opportunities to learn social skills, decision-making skills, and resilience needed to postpone first use of drugs and alcohol and prevent abuse and misuse. YW Club Connect is one of many YW prevention programs, serving students from preschool through 12th grade.
The Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center, at 95 S. Hanover St. on the campus of Montgomery County Community College, has a mission to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning, empowering children to dream big, explore boldly, and thrive through play. The Discovery Center is open to the public Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; more information may be found at www.pottstowndiscoverykids.org.
YWCA Tri-County Area is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YW is a leader in advocacy for women and girls, works to eliminate racism, and empowers Tri-County Area residents through quality affordable early education, youth enrichment, adult literacy, and a host of programs to support the health and vitality of women, girls, and families.
