Poetry and Healing: Gang Intervention Through Creative Expression with Chris Henrikson

Discover how poetry became a revolutionary tool for healing trauma and building community in one of America's most challenging environments. Chris Henrikson, founder of Street Poets, shares three decades of insights from his groundbreaking work in LA County juvenile detention facilities, where he discovered poetry's unique power to create safe spaces for vulnerability and transformation among gang-involved youth.

This episode explores the profound connection between childhood sexual abuse and gang involvement, revealing how creative expression can break through the hardest shells to reach places of deep healing. Chris shares practical wisdom about creating circles of trust, navigating institutional challenges, and the ripple effects that occur when young people find the courage to share their stories.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How poetry provides protective "cover" for sharing traumatic experiences
• Strategies for building authentic relationships in institutional settings
• The healing power of vulnerability and storytelling in community building
• Practical approaches to addressing childhood sexual abuse disclosure
• Methods for creating transformative partnerships between schools and outside organizations

Featured Guest: Chris Henrikson transformed his personal crisis as a Hollywood screenwriter into a 30-year calling serving gang-involved youth. His Street Poets organization has become a model for arts-based healing interventions, demonstrating how creative expression can break cycles of violence and trauma while building authentic community.

Visit Learning Courage: learningcourage.org

Connect with Chris Henrikson: Street Poets, Los Angeles

Website - https://learningcourage.org
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Instagram - @learningcourage
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/learning-courage/