Minn. Teen Choir Aids Recovery August 13, 2004
News Summary
The Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir helps addicted teens by incorporating physical healing with emotional growth, the Eden Prairie Sun reported Aug. 12.The Minneapolis-based choir is a mandatory activity for participants in the Minnesota Teen Challenge, a faith-based residential facility for 250 adults and teens with alcohol and other drug addiction.
"Every single student is a member of our choir," said Kim Lende, associate development director for Teen Challenge. "Participation in the choir ... helps build a cooperative group dynamic among individuals who are often accustomed to individually isolated behavior. Another positive thing the choir does is to help structure residents to a regular practice schedule, where they feel a sense of accomplishment when they master new songs. It is also hugely beneficial for them to be warmly accepted by an audience. Most of our students have heard mostly negative and critical remarks most of their lives, and feeling warmth from the audience helps them experience healing under a loving response combined with structure."
Minnesota Teen Challenge originally opened more than 10 years ago to service teens. The center, part of a worldwide network of Teen Challenge centers that began in New York in 1958, added services for adults because of high demand.
The center's residents, the majority of whom have been ordered to the center by the courts in lieu of prison time, participate in four levels of the 12-month, faith-based program. They are addiction, anger management, Christianity, and transitioning into the community.
Teens participate in the program while studying at the center's on-site alternative school. In addition, residents perform four or five concerts every Sunday. The choir has sung at several events, including Minnesota Twins and Vikings games.
"We split the choir into smaller groups," said Lende. "It lets us touch more people. At bigger events we feature the whole choir at the same time."
Lende said the choir is much more than beautiful music. "When our students share their stories with the audience, the honesty has a tremendous cathartic effect in the healing process," she said. "They are learning to be honest with themselves and others about their past and allowing themselves to be freed of the shame and secrecy in order to be filled with love and forgiveness."
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