Last month, Multnomah County's Juvenile Services Division unveiled a collection of artwork created by young people whose lives have intersected with the justice system. The 16 pieces, now mounted on the corridors and seating areas of the Juvenile Court at the Juvenile Services Division in Northeast Portland, serve as a testament to the meaningful relationships, creativity, healing and empowerment fostered through a mentorship collaboration with Medicine Bear.
The popular program made its return to the division in January 2023 after a challenging hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Rodolfo "Rudy" Serna, Medicine Bear’s director. This time around, he said, the program’s focus was not only on bringing positivity and hope to any youth in detention, but also facilitating healing and honoring elders, particularly those who passed away during the pandemic.
“Because of my medicine man’s passing, I had this idea that I needed to go deeper with the kids and not just bring that positive feeling and hopefulness, but also some healing,” said Serna. “So this fun activity that was really just about learning how to draw a line turned into this activity about our senses and what we feel, a memory and what that felt like, how it felt, smelled, and tasted.”
The project, "Restoring Hope through Art and Culture," drew inspiration from three generations of Native American practices and values, incorporating elements such as smudging and talking circles. Medicine Bear brought in art therapists to slowly and gradually encourage the youth to express themselves artistically.
“A lot of these kids bring a lot of talent that we don't realize, and sometimes I actually tell them, ‘Don't lean on that so much and try something new.’ And I remind them that historically, artists that are known are the ones who did the new things,” said Serna.
Much of the artwork reveals the personal stories of the youth — with pieces depicting familiar places like the intersection of N. Albina and N. Killingsworth by the Portland Community College Cascade campus, evoking a sense of place and nostalgia.
“They spoke of home," said Serna in reference to the piece depicting that North Portland location. “You’d recognize it, but you just don’t think about it, and it’s this old market that still looks very dated and it’s what reminded him of home.”
Another piece illustrates a Ranchero wearing a hat with a flower blossoming above his head.
Community members and stakeholders were invited to view these and more during a June opening reception event that included an honoring drum song and a rite of passage. Testimonials from those involved in the project highlighted the transformative impact it had on their lives.
Jose Ruiz Valentine, a Multnomah County Juvenile Custody Services Specialist who once participated in the program, shared his journey of reconnecting with his culture through sweat lodges and Indigenous artwork. He now dedicates himself to community work and creating murals throughout Portland, and recently joined the Juvenile Services Division as an employee himself.
“When I started learning more about my culture, I started to realize how much more community work you could do with kids that are like me, teaching them about their culture,” he said.
Dr. Kyla Romero Armstrong, the director of the Juvenile Services Division, emphasized the significance of preventing justice involvement in the first place and shared her commitment to providing the right resources.
“We want to prevent any justice involvement and focus on the community. The system is not the solution," said Armstrong Romero. “So our focus moving forward is making sure we have the right resources.”
Serna emphasized that the program's purpose goes beyond simply observing the youth's experiences. It’s also about assisting them in their healing process by showing vulnerability and openly expressing emotions. By doing so, he hopes to break the generational cycle of emotional suppression.
“I cry a lot and my boys need to see that,” Serna says. “It's important because a lot of our dads didn’t cry.”
The eight-week program extends beyond the participants’ time in the Juvenile Services Division, with many youth returning for mural projects or even serving as mentors. Serna said Medicine Bear is committed to working with youth for as long as they wish, emphasizing the importance of healing and emotional expression.
“I know that this is just one of the experiences in their young lives and they're going to have many more, and so I bring that … to the forefront,” Serna said.
“We’re starting new every day.”