Department or Program
Psychology
Abstract
All adolescents deserve an open, safe space to develop as thinkers and creatives. With anti-immigration sentiment on the rise in the United States and decreased funding for refugee services, psychologists’ writing, scholarship, and action are necessary to center the voices and journeys of immigrant youth growing up in this tumultuous landscape. Creation has healing effects, especially when a tactile element is involved. This study is community-engaged, art-based, and produced using a mixed-methods design in collaboration with Maine Community Integration (MCI). Grounded in decolonial psychology, this study aims to center the voices of marginalized youth by increasing access to clay for 10 adolescent girls related to the immigrant and refugee community in Lewiston, Maine. Through an 8-week clay-based workshop series, this study explored the effects of clay on mindfulness, resilience, and belonging. Data were collected through pre- and post- clay workshop surveys and interviews.
Level of Access
Restricted: Embargoed [Bates Community After Expiration]
First Advisor
Garrison, Yun
Date of Graduation
5-2026
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Recommended Citation
Passino, Anya Catalina, "Creation as a Means of Mindfulness, Resilience, and Belonging via Clay-Based Workshops with Adolescents from Immigrant and Refugee Backgrounds" (2026). Honors Theses. 546.
https://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses/546
Number of Pages
74
Components of Thesis
1 pdf file
Community Engagement
1