There was a person who made a circle to keep me out,
so I made a circle to include us both.
TRIBAL RHYTHMS® HOMEPAGE
Tribal Rhythms is a process that uses the theme of "tribe" and the arts to build community and satisfy the human need to belong by creating inclusive, nurturing learning environments in school and a variety of community settings. This process builds community among relative strangers by developing an elementary culture complete with shared values, symbols, decision-making, and ceremonies. The goal is not to recreate the culture of any society, past or present, but to engage participants in fundamental culture-making activities which result in their creating their own group identity and common bonds. Teachers throughout New England, and across the country, are creating Learning Tribes using the Tribal Rhythms curriculum to improve students' social skills and academic achievement. The Tribal Rhythms Program was developed by Cooperative Artists Institute (CAI) in 1970 to provide a strategy for addressing the many urgent problems resulting from the family fragmentation, racial and social isolation, poverty, and loss of community brought on by the social and economic changes in contemporary American society.
"The developers of the Tribal Rhythms Program have created original and powerful tools for helping children be their most human and humane. This program is built on a deep understanding of children's abilities and interests. The clear and easily do-able activities foster important feelings, skills, and values for living in a more caring way in a diverse, democratic society."
-- Freda Rebelsky, Ph.D., Ret. Professor of Developmental Psychology,
Learn more about our rationale and philosophy:
THE PROBLEM (click here)
THE SOLUTION (click here)