SOHO Overview

"Space Of Her Own” (SOHO) is an art-based program serving pre-teen girls, ages 10 to 12. The program offers participants yearlong mentoring through engagement in creative art activities and meaningful community service projects. Each volunteer mentor makes a one-year commitment to the program, which fosters long-term relationships. This program utilizes evidence-based life skills curricula and the National Mentoring Partnership’s model program guidelines.

As a result of a citywide survey of Alexandria’s teens and parents, and community focus groups, it was concluded that at-risk girls would be most successful in avoiding juvenile criminal activity and improving social skills and self-esteem, through engagement in long-term mentoring involving art activities. Consequently, a partnership between the local Court Service Unit and the non-profit Art League was developed and a “Space Of Her Own” was conceived.

Girls are matched with adult, volunteer female mentors, who work with them in weekly art classes as part of the yearlong program. Homework support, life skills, communication and anger-management classes are infused into every program day. The mentors are not professional artists. They and the girls learn artistic concepts and techniques throughout the course. Both mentor and youth work together to create expressive and attractive artwork for the girl's bedroom, which may include a "dream" chest, mirror, personalized chairs, lamps and wall hangings.

The program is loosely based on the popular television show "Trading Spaces" because upon completion of the program, girls and mentors work in teams to remodel other girls bedrooms, being sure to include ample lighting and study space. Each girl is then required to “pay it forward” by completing community service projects with her mentor. Artwork and a before-and-after renovation video are exhibited at a community reception. 

The promise of gorgeous new bedrooms is the program’s hook, promoting near-perfect program attendance, which also attracts mentors. Because of the program’s non-threatening approach, mentors, program administrators, and seasonal volunteers are welcomed into the girl’s homes during renovations. This often results in connecting families to appropriate city services. The success of this program is not only the one-year commitment by mentor and youth, but also the three-year follow-up of activities and supportive services through the SOHO Sisterhood Club, which is available to graduates throughout their middle school years. 

The SOHO program's evaluation measures assure the program's effectiveness.  The following items are measured:  the duration of the mentor/mentee relationships, the quality of the mentor/mentee relationships, developmental assets (via pre/post tests), criminal involvement and teen pregnancy.  Since its inception, SOHO has serviced 93 girls, only 3 of which have subsequently become involved in the court system.

Alice Merrill from The Art League and Linda Odell from the City of Alexandria Court Service, are recipients of the 2005 Leadership Fairfax Community Partnership Award for the development of “Space of Her Own.” The program has been awarded the 2004 United Way Eureka Award, by INOVA Health Services. SOHO has been featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, on WAMU 88.5 FM Metro Connection radio show, The Washington Post, and the recently published book, “Healing the Inner City Child: Art Therapies for At-risk Youth.” SOHO has been presented at various local, state and national conferences, which has prompted solicitations for support in replicating the program in other cities. The program is currently being replicated in Richmond by Art 180 and The Visual Arts Center of Richmond.

Alexandria's Youth Fund supports this program, along with the Otto Whalley Family Foundation and The Meltzer Group. Other contributors include: Alive! (Alexandrians InVolved Ecumenically), Bittersweet Catering, Bugsy’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar, Duron Paint Company, Mattress Discounters, and many more who have contributed their time, materials, and financial support.

SOHO has a waiting list of interested girls and mentors.  SOHO's goal is to establish a new funding source that will enable us to duplicate the program to reach youth on the currently under-served west end of Alexandria.