Justice-Involved Artists Teach Harlem Seniors How To Draw

A unique partnership between The Fortune Society and The Allure Group provided nursing home residents in Harlem with a new take on popular “paint & sip” parties on Monday, May 20. The program paired justice-involved individuals with seniors in an afternoon of free drawing lessons accompanied by delicious and nutritious smoothies.

Fortune’s program, called ARTrition, serves a dual benefit by providing Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) clients from The Fortune Society with a mechanism to give back to the community. It also provides residents at the Harlem Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation with fun recreational activities designed to stimulate creativity and aid in their rehab – a hallmark of The Allure Group’s rehabilitation regimen.

“Paint …” Guy Woodard, an exquisite artist and knowledgeable art teacher at Fortune - who served time in federal prison on forgery and counterfeiting charges - led a group of Fortune’s ATI art students in providing art instruction to the Harlem Center residents. By special request of the nursing home residents, the art lesson focused on drawing portraits of President Barrack Obama.

“& Sip …” In addition, Fortune’s nutritionist was on hand to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the homemade smoothies that were enjoyed during the art lesson.

ARTrition’s impact is significant. Fortune’s young people repair and build positive relationships with their communities and give back through service while simultaneously building job readiness, adaptive skills and a foundation for resilience. Community benefit projects are an opportunity for Fortune youth to dream bigger for themselves and their neighborhoods, and to reorient themselves as emerging leaders.

The Fortune Society is one of the nation’s most respected nonprofit organizations serving and advocating for people with criminal justice involvement.

The Allure Group is a network of comprehensive skilled nursing facilities in New York City.