Activity time: 20 minutes

Materials for Activity

• Newsprint, markers, and tape
• Paper, pens, and markers
• Art supplies such as clay (play dough), beads, “jewels” (items from nature such as seed, nuts, dried leaves and flowers), colored paper, yarn, chenille stems, stickers, play money, fabric scraps, felt, wooden craft sticks, pom-poms, feathers, eyes, sequins, or recycled Styrofoam or CDs
• Magazines to cut up
• Scissors, tape, a stapler, glue sticks and craft glue to share

Preparation for Activity

• Prepare a work table with chairs to display art supplies and to give participants workspace for creating art projects.
• Write the following questions on newsprint, and post them:
  • What parts of today’s workshop resonated deeply with me and why?
  • How do my financial choices affect others? How do the decisions of others affect me?
  • When and how have I observed or experienced classism or economic injustice? Did I react with feelings of inadequacy, entitlement, frustration, or something else?

Description of Activity

Invite participants to create an artistic expression in response to their feelings and experiences with classism and economic injustice. Offer them use of the materials provided to create something that expresses metaphorically what has emerged or what they may be struggling with from this workshop. Suggest a drawing, a clay sculpture, a 3D art form, a dance, or a poem. Invite them to use the questions you have posted on newsprint to spark ideas. Explain that this activity need not be done in silence and participants may want to socialize as they process and work. Tell them that they will have 15 minutes to work and then will share with others.

After 15 minutes, ask participants to gather in groups of three to share their completed project in whatever way feels comfortable. Say:

You need not describe in detail the feelings you may be experiencing. Instead, tell your conversation partners a bit more about the piece you created.

Allow about five minutes for small groups to share.

Including All Participants

Some participants may resist this activity. Encourage each person to participate at whatever level they feel comfortable. Creative expression, playfulness, and the use of metaphor are all important practices in faith development. Remind them that because different learning styles are typically present in a group, some participants will always be standing close to the edge of their comfort zone!