Art Class Making a Difference
"The Art class is one of my favourite times of the week and l am so proud of what l achieved in the class."
Not-for-profit Positive Directions is helping adults overcome social issues with their weekly art classes in Inkerman street.
Founder Lenny Gross has spent the last 30 years assisting people with social issues and started the organisation alongside his daughter, Sam Gross, who also has a history of working with special needs and mental health clients.
Positive Directions works with adults with special needs and mental health issues, to overcome some of their social issues while encouraging a healthier and happier life. They aim to do this through different mediums, including healthy eating, fitness and social interaction.
As part of their services, Positive Directions runs an art class for some of their clients where they can socialise and learn.
Lenny Gross said, “The beauty of the art classes is the social connections formed and friendships developed.”
“Art finds a way to fill in the gaps and creatively show what the participants are thinking. This is one of the many ways Positive Directions attempts to achieve its goals of sustainable unconditional friendships.”
Art Teacher Debbie Rosenberg, who started teaching with Positive Directions just before the pandemic, explained that it is not about what they make, but the journey of making it.
The weekly art class is a tight-knit group of four regulars.
One passionate class attendee, David Igel, said, “The Art class is one of my favourite times of the week and l am so proud of what l achieved in the class. Teacher Deb and Lenny are changing my life and l have so many wonderful friends.”
Fellow classmate Daniel Kraus echoed these sentiments, saying, “Art is not my favourite thing to do but l love being with friends and trying to create. Teacher Deb helps me with this process and l feel blessed to belong to Lenny’s group.”
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