Greyston's Leaders of the Future Program provides a safe instructive after-school environment for children in elementary and middle school. Children are trained in entrepreneurship, substance-abuse prevention and improved decision-making skills and conflict resolution and anti-bullying education. Activities offer participants a broad experience and an enjoyable afternoon. The program uses the Buena Vista Community Garden as a "business lab," and meets indoors during the colder months.

The program is led by Alan Martinez who grew up in South Yonkers and participated in Greyston's programs since childhood.  He and his family - sister and mom - were members of the Community Gardens program led by Lucy Moreno Casanova.  Lucy saw special potential in Alan and invited him to join the Enviro-Earth club, which cultivates neighborhood youth to become environmental stewards and role models to their peers.  Beginning in the seventh grade, Alan was an active bi-lingual volunteer in our programs and in the ninth grade, won a coveted internship spot.  By the twelfth grade Alan was facilitating groups and spending almost all his free time with the program.   

Now, as a student at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Alan has been hired as the Program Coordinator for this terrific program where he is helping to prepare the next generation.

Maitri's art therapy studio allows members to use their creativity and imaginations to process their feelings and express their emotions. Many members spend several hours each week in the art studio, working with the Board Certified Art Therapist and using various mediums to create a variety of artwork, such as paintings, sculptures, collages, and masks. While the most popular activity is painting, members have recently focused on mask making as a method for exploring identity and self constructs.  

The exploration of the ego-or the "mask" they wear-helps participants understand how their identity influences their quality of life and relationships. They have also been using the ancient technique of encaustics to create dreamlike pieces that closely mirror the therapeutic process.

Countless members have benefited from the art therapy program. The following are three examples of the profound healing that occurs within the walls of the art studio.

·    "Miguel" was a Vietnam veteran who suffered from PTSD from his role in the war. He arrived at Maitri recovering from addiction and terribly ill with AIDS. Slowly he regained enough physical strength to begin exploring his emotions through art, and he healed his multiple traumas over the next three years. He was ultimately able to make peace with himself and the world through his art process.

·    "George" lived on the streets for thirteen years before coming to Maitri. In art therapy he found a mode of communication that slowly allowed him to emerge from the emotional prison of drug addiction. He is now one of the community's leaders and is very well-respected and admired by his peers.

·    "Silvia" was a young woman who was the victim of severe and prolonged sexual and physical abuse throughout her childhood that ultimately resulted in her contraction of HIV. In art therapy, she has been able to process the difficult feelings that accompanied her profound trauma and has been able to use her insights to improve her life and to become a better mother, therefore improving the lives of her children.