Ing’s Peace project and LGBTQ Youth
At Hetrick-Martin Institute, Newark, NJ
Comments on “What does Peace mean to you?”
And artworks, during fall and winter 2012
Organized by Gabriela C. Celeiro, Bilingual Counselor
I love flowers, they are beautiful. I wait for the weather to change till spring then I can go to my backyard garden. I cultivate my garden seeing the plants rising and growing each day. Then the magic will come when the flowers show up to greet me. I can spend hours in my little garden. To keep the beauty of these flowers in winter when I long to see them I take a lot of pictures. Thanks to the evolution of digital cameras I can take the photographs and print to give to friends or make a slide show or movie.
When I sat wanting to compose the finished artwork from the LGBTQ youth comments poster I thought of something beautiful. I want this group of youths to feel beautiful just like my beautiful flowers. When we feel beautiful then we feel good. As long as we feel happy we can do a lot of things no matter what some people say.
Below are the sections of my finished artwork that show the written comments from the LGBTQ youth on “What does Peace mean to you?” on my Peace Project Poster that accompanies beautiful flower images that I took from our backyard garden.
You Are Beautiful
Life is precious
Life is short
Enjoy as much as you can
Try to be independent
But ask when you need help
Help yourself as much as you can
And help the others as much as you can
That is life
As long as you try your best
Then you will be worthwhile
Be kind and be happy
Because you are beautiful
We are all beautiful
And we are all equal
Lead your life in a harmonious and peaceful way
Because you are beautiful to me
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Thursday, March 28, 2013, 10:25 pm
Appreciate simple things around you
Minimize luxury life styles
Be more concerned with conservation
Be generous and kind
Remove ill thought
Broaden your knowledge
Learn and do your best
Understand things beyond yourself
If you are still dissatisfied
Then sleep and after your rest
Try again the next day
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Saturday, February 9, 2013, 4:38 pm
Equality for All
There will be no Peace
Without equality
If the scale of justice
Is unbalanced
There are always reasons for oppressors
To put others down
At one time women could not own property
And could not vote
And slaves of all races could be sold like cattle
And others historically were also treated wickedly
Humanity has evolved
Using our brains and our knowledge
To progress and change
Change we must!
Equality is balance
Human Rights is for all
And equality is for all
This will bring peace to the world
Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Friday, March 29, 2013, 12:03 am
I am glad to know Gabby. I appreciate her help bringing my Peace Project to the LGBTQ youth. I even more appreciate her enthusiastic helping to educate the youth. It requires a special kind of person to undertake the work that she does.
Below are the communications between us via emails for introducing my Peace Project to the LGBTQ youth:
Hi Ing,
It was nice to see you today, as per our conversation I wanted to e-mail you some information about the agency I work for.
The Hetrick-Martin Institute believes all young people, regardless of sexual
orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to
achieve their full potential. Hetrick-Martin creates this environment for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth between the ages of 12 and
24 and their families.
Through a comprehensive package of direct services and referrals, Hetrick-Martin
seeks to foster healthy youth development. Hetrick-Martin’s staff promotes
excellence in the delivery of youth services and uses its expertise to create
innovative programs that other organizations may use as models.
The agency is based out of New York City, but we have opened up a satellite site
here in Newark, NJ.
I worked in the NYC site for 3 years and have returned to the agency to work in
their Newark site which is located at 200 Washington Streetat the Rutgers Yess
Center.
At HMI-Newark we work with youth ages 12-21 from the greater Newark area.
We provide:
* Mental Health & Supportive Services: support groups for youth-related issues
including relationships and “coming out.”
* Health & Wellness: health education groups and referrals for HIV testing,
provided by community partners.
* Arts & Culture Programs: service learning programs with a focus on leadership
and team building.
I will be starting an Expressive Arts Therapy group that will run on Wednesdays from
4:30 pm-6:00 pm from September 12th to December 19th.
I will be incorporating the Peace Project as part of my curriculum.
As per our conversation I will be picking up the large Peace Poster next Monday, September 10th.
Thank you,
Gabby
Gabriela C. Celeiro
Bilingual Counselor, HMI To Go:Newark
Hetrick-Martin Institute
Home of theHarveyMilkHigh School
2 Astor Place|New York City 10003
Empowerment, Education, & Advocacy for LGBTQ Youth
Phone 212-674-8695
Fax 212-674-8651
Gceleiro@hmi.org<mailto:Gceleiro@hmi.org> | www.hmi.org<https://www.hmi.org/>
To make a donation today to HMI and support at-risk LGBTQ youth, please
click
here<https://www.hmi.org/donate>.
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Email]<https://www.hmi.org/> [Description: Description: Description:
cid:image001.jpg@01CCA098.7D437DB0] <https://www.facebook.com/hetrickmartin>
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<https://www.twitter.com/hetrickmartin> <https://www.youtube.com/user/HetrickMartin
Hi Gabby,
Thank you very much for your email and all the information. I am glad to know you and appreciate you and your organization taking an initiative to help this group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. I am looking forward to working with you on my Peace Project.
I will see you tomorrow and hope that you will be O.K. with the bronze. I will prepare my Peace Poster for you to pick it up on Monday, September 10th.
See you tomorrow.
Ing
My phone number is 973-642-0029, in case you need to contact me by phone.
https://ingpeaceproject.com/ings-videos-on-youtube/
Ing’s Videos on YouTube
Hi Gabby,
Thank you very much for returning the Peace Poster with very good and interesting comments. I like some of the designs on the poster. I will try to find time to do the finished artwork from the poster that you returned to me. Would you tell me when you are going to have the art show of your students? I have quite a few projects that I have to finish. I am looking forward to seeing your comments from my questionnaires.
I just finished few of videos for YouTube. If you have time to view them please visit my website and the link for Ing’s Videos on Youtube page is as the following:
https://ingpeaceproject.com/ings-videos-on-youtube/
Please let me know what you think about the videos. Your comments and suggestions will be helpful and greatly appreciated.
All the best,
Ing
Hi Gabby,
How are you? I hope you are ok. I just finished the Artwork of the poster that you organized form HMI students. If you have some free time I would like to show the finished artwork to you. Please email me when you would like to come or call me at 973-642-0029. We are open our shop at 12 noon and close at 6 pm.
See you soon.
Ing
3.25.13
Wonderful I will try to come by today before 5pm.
Thank you,
Gabby
Sent from my iPhone
Mar 27, 2013
Gabby came to see me about 5:30 pm. I showed her the finished artwork, she liked it. We took some pictures in front of the large size of finished artwork print. I gave her the medium size print (24” x 14”).
Ing’s Peace Project & LGBTQ Youth
Link to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Seqjsap7LQc&feature=youtu.be
(7:42 minutes)
Hi Gabby,
How are you? I hope you are fine. I just uploaded LGBTQ Youth & Ing’s Peace Project video on YouTube, the link is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Seqjsap7LQc&feature=youtu.be
Please let me know what you think about the video.
Hope you have a nice summer.
Ing
7.1.13
Hi Ing,
The video looks wonderful, thank you so much for doing that.
Please see attached pictures of the peace poster in my
counseling office, I had it framed and showed it at an art
exhibit atRutgersUniversityinNew Brunswick, for
the department of child protection and permanency in New Jersey.
Thanks,
Gabby
Gabriela C. Celeiro
Bilingual Counselor, MSW
Hetrick-Martin Institute-Newark
Empowerment, Education, & Advocacy for LGBTQ Youth
Phone 646-581-0720
Fax 212-674-8651
Gceleiro@hmi.org | www.hmi.org
Hi Gabby,
Thanks for the attachments. I do love your composition about the LGBTQ youth. Your writing helps the readers to understand the lives of this group of youths and how they can get themselves into bad situations and become homeless. My love and my heart go out to these youths. The help that you and your organization offer to these youngsters is to be complimented and should be recognized as a good example for others to follow.
I am glad that you have the finished peace project artwork framed and exhibited.
Please let me know if you would like to work on my peace project with the new classes and the new group of youngsters again.
I hope you enjoy your summer. Please stop by when you are near our shop.
All the best,
Ing
PS. I hope you do not mind, I posted your responses to my email on my website.
7.4.2013
The Hetrick-Martin Institute believes all young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential. Hetrick-Martin creates this environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth between the ages of 12 and 24 and their families.
Through a comprehensive package of direct services and referrals, Hetrick-Martin seeks to foster healthy youth development. Hetrick-Martin’s staff promotes excellence in the delivery of youth services and uses its expertise to create innovative programs that other organizations may use as models.
HMI:Newarkis based on the services for LGBTQ youth operated for over 30 years by the Hetrick-Martin Institute inNew York City. Offering counseling and crisis management, health and wellness programming, academic enrichment, job readiness and arts and cultural programming, HMI has implemented its first out-of-state direct service program.
Provides after-school services to LGBTQ youth in the City of Newark
•Mental Health & Supportive Services: support groups for youth-related issues including relationships and “coming out.”
•Health & Wellness: health education groups and referrals for HIV testing, provided by community partners.
•Arts & Culture Programs: service learning programs with a focus on leadership and team building.
Provides a safe and supportive environment for Newark’s LGBTQ youth to reach their full potential
•By collaborating with family and other support systems, we work to engage youth in their own growth and development and get them involved as responsible citizens of their community.
•Available to young people and their families.
•Open weekdays 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm, year round.
•Open to youth between the ages of 12 to 21.
HMI: Newark (A Demographic Snapshot)
•Multi-ethnic: 42% African Americans, 27% Latin , 4% Caucasian, 4% West Indian, & 22% Other.
•Serve youth fromNewark, the greaterEssexCounty, and beyond.
•Educational status comprising youth from Junior High: 9%, High School: 82%, College: 7%, & Out of School: 2%.
•53% high school graduates with 47% youth attending college next year.
HMI: Newark
Located in the Rutgers T.E.E.M. Gateway/YES Center
200 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07101
For more information, please contact Juan Williams, LMSW, Site Supervisor, HMI: Newark at jwilliams@hmi.org or 347-501-2930.
Our Programs & Services
After School Programs
Year-round, in a safe, supportive environment, the Hetrick-Martin Institute’s After-School Services Department provides its youth members (whether they are enrolled in school or not) a wide range of group activities designed to develop social and interpersonal skills and build confidence. Last year our After-School Department reached more than 2,000 LGBTQ youth and their families.
Arts and Culture programs foster self-expression through dance, film, photography, painting, theater, and more.
Health and Wellness programs range from hands-on instruction in how to cook healthy meals to learning more about STDs, fighting stress, and preventing HIV.
Academic Enrichment programs help our LGBTQ youth prep for college, do computer training, get help with homework, or join a book club (among countless activities).
Job Readiness and Career Exploration programs assist in building job skills, writing résumés, and landing internships.
Supportive Services
From the first moment a young person enters HMI, one of our team of professional Supportive Services counselors is there to:
- Assess the safety of each youth.
- Offer assistance in getting a meal at Café HMI, getting clothing from our pantry, and finding housing.
- Provide counseling sessions based on individual needs. Individual, group, and family counseling are available.
- Make referrals to LGBTQ-sensitive agencies.
- Provide an opportunity for youth to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to move toward self-sufficiency, self-acceptance, and personal success.
- Be a part of their care and their family.
Internships
HMI Youth Members can take their involvement to the next level through our paid-internship and experiential programs. Learn More
HMI can not accept electronic information from users under the age of 13. For more information please read our privacy policy.
Advocacy and Capacity Building
Advocacy: Educating Decision Makers on Issues Affecting LGBTQ Youth; Providing a voice for those who often go unheard.
HMI Staff works to provide information and best practices to address the needs of the often disconnected population working with policy makers, government institutions and the community-at-large, advocating on the behalf of LGBTQ youth and those that support them.
Capacity Building: Training and Resources
With over 3 decades of experience, HMI takes its best practices in LGBTQ youth service delivery on the road! We offer workshops, trainings and seminars in how to serve this unique population. Our trained staff will work with you and your organization or community to provide a custom-designed training that meets your specific needs. Workshop topics include, “Building Inclusive Communities,” “Understanding Human Sexuality and Gender Identity,” “Working with LGBTQ Adolescents,” and much more.
Link to Academy Street Firehouse Youth page:
https://ingpeaceproject.com/1-academy-street-firehouse-youth/1-academy-street-firehouse-youth/