“Both myself and a 10-year-old we will call Ben (for privacy’s sake) knew the score. Both his parents were dead,” wrote Sunny Sage Bybee, lead artist for the Glen Allen Project (GAP). Sunny had been involved in Ben’s older sister’s life for some years. When they lost their father to an overdose the previous year, their world had been torn apart, especially for their mother, who had unknowingly provided the fentanyl-laced cocaine that stopped his heart. In the year that followed, her guilt fueled her own addiction. By the time Sunny encountered Ben again, both parents were gone. Ben had been the one to find his mother cold and blue.
His older sister took him in. Already familiar with the mentorship, support, and creative community GAP provides to kids in need, she brought Ben in. But he wasn’t ready for a group setting. He needed one-on-one connection. So that’s where they started.
Sunny let Ben choose any medium he wanted from the shelves. The space is stocked with all kinds of inspiring materials. He chose polymer clay. She asked him to sculpt what his parents’ addiction would look like if it were a monster. The finished grey piece had a single eye, twisting tentacles, and a gaping mouth ringed with sharp fangs. Ben worked in silence. When it was finished, he let out a long, heavy sigh. Then they talked about the monster’s scary parts. And together, they smashed it.
Simple acts like this can be a gateway to a child reclaiming his sense of autonomy in a situation that is completely unfair and entirely out of his control. A small bit of tension visibly lessened in his posture.
A little while later, a girl we’ll call “Anna” rolled up on her bike. Anna’s mom has been in and out of prison for drugs her entire life. Ben and Anna seemed to sense a connection immediately. As they sat together molding the clay back into a ball, they laughed, chatted, and discovered they attended the same school. In a remarkable moment, Ben opened up and spoke about his situation. It may seem like a small step. But for a child who has just been orphaned, finding peers who understand and accept him is enormous. Anna and Ben will always share that bond.
This story is at the heart of why I joined GAP as executive director. Our motto is simple: Where Art Saves Lives. Our mission is to provide a space for people to produce, create, heal, and connect. We serve as a model for how communities can support their most vulnerable members.
Pocatello faces a serious shortage of enrichment programs for youth, particularly for those not engaged in sports or church-affiliated activities. Bannock County has no YMCA, no Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter, and few accessible after-school programs. According to the United Way of Southeastern Idaho, 44% of households live at or below the ALICE threshold. Nearly 10% of local kids experience food insecurity. The median household income sits at $51,293, well below Idaho’s statewide median. And 678 youth in Bannock County are currently involved in diversion programs or supervised probation.
With support from generous donors, we now offer a children’s craft club, an inclusive class for those with special needs, and children’s and young adult book distributions (in collaboration with the Human Rights Collective). We use upcycled and reclaimed materials in a space built by the community, for the community. And our new teen center is open after school Monday through Friday. The center is envisioned as an intergenerational space where participants work together on projects as diverse as e-sports, woodworking, textiles, robotics, or homework help.
Too many children are slipping through the cracks. GAP exists to catch them. Read more at glenallenarts.org
