Forming a Community Through Shared Creativity: The Doodle Lounge
This month, Margaret Fairbanks sat down and interviewed the leader of our daily Sandbox programming Doodle Lounge, Charlie Fairbanks…who just so happens to also be her son! Read on to learn more about this amazing group of fearless creators!
How did the Doodle Lounge get its start? How has it evolved over the last 12 months?
Doodle lounge started out as a way for us to stay connected with the students at Islands of Brilliance at a time when we were unsure when we would be able to see each other in person again. The original intent was to replicate the experience in the drawing lounge of Colors and Chords where there are big canvases and little notebooks scattered throughout a corner on the second level, where people are able to socialize, share their creativity, and leave a little piece of them behind in their drawings. We wanted the virtual Doodle Lounge to encompass that feeling while also providing a safe space where students feel welcomed and are encouraged to express themselves and their interests.
At the beginning, the groups were rather small and there was minimal interaction between students. We were all kind of navigating the new environment and figuring things out together. Today, the community has grown and we see familiar faces hop on the screen every day. This consistency in participation has turned participants into friends. They recognize and celebrate each other's likes and always offer encouragement.
The way the students engage with each other has evolved too. Not everyone talks with a microphone. Some use the chat function to offer compliments or to ask questions. Usually, an inside joke or two are thrown into the chat which can bring on a chuckle or two from the group.
People living with autism face different challenges and misperceptions each day. Two of those misperceptions are that people on the spectrum are not creative or empathetic. Can you share examples of experiences you've witnessed in the Doodle Lounge that would reverse those misperceptions?
The community of Doodle Lounge has proven that our students are incredibly creative and empathetic. Each student is able to express their own interests in a positive environment where they feel safe. The end result is a place where students inspire each other and collaborate and learn how to grow their creative talents. Having a place to share interests has given the students the chance to create connections and friendships.
Every day, the students and I come together, greet each other, and ask about what we have been working on. They are curious to see their peers’ creations and take note of each other’s moods and feelings. When the students learned about a mentor who had recently broken two of his ribs, I asked them to make a card to help him feel better. As I shared the news, one student began to cry as he was so worried about his friend and mentor and didn't want him to be in pain.
What has surprised you the most about students' participation in the Doodle Lounge?
I am overwhelmed at just how many different ideas the students come up with each session. Every day the students will bring in new ideas and new drawings. I’m always left wondering, where does all this creativity come from?
Sometimes when I come back from the weekend, students will come with eight or nine new drawings they did over the weekend. If I did that many drawings, I know I'd be burned out. But these students just keep creating. I'm amazed at just how talented the students are, especially given their age and am routinely envious of the skills of 12 and 13-year olds.
I get to witness some pretty cool conversations too. The students love to share their different perspectives and topics vary widely which keeps things interesting and fun. One thing that was a bit of a surprise was just how closely the students pay attention to what the others are making. They truly enjoy their work and are each other's biggest fans. For many, their self confidence has grown leaps and bounds because they've got this tremendous support team.
What do you think the students like best about the Doodle Lounge?
Students and mentors enjoy Shayne’s sketch as he shares his response to one of the daily “Doodle Challenges.”
I think a big factor is the confidence boost they gain from their peers. Something that a lot of kids on the spectrum lack is a community where they feel safe and welcomed. You often hear that individuals with autism have no desire to socialize or connect with their peers, and yet in Doodle Lounge, everyone is overflowing with personality, creativity, and relishes the opportunity to share that with one another. Here is this amazing group of students who care about each other and value one another’s inputs and are genuinely excited to see each other. Many of these kids have had a rough time in school and struggle to make friends in that environment, but if you saw the way they interact in Doodle Lounge, you would never have guessed that.
What do you like best about the Doodle Lounge?
I love seeing the students address and interact with one another. For a while when Doodle Lounge first started, students primarily interacted with me, and it was sort of this small set of individual interactions. Now, it’s become a group of friends that want to see each other’s artwork and share their interests. That’s more than I could have ever asked for when I started the program.
Seeing all of the ideas, the work, the art. It's the highlight of my day.
Have you seen your creativity evolve as part of your participation in the Doodle Lounge?
I find myself coming up with all sorts of different ideas and new ways to approach them based on conversations we have and things that get shared. The students love to create backstories for their characters. There's so much life and personality to them. Personally, I find it can be hard to find all the time to make so many drawings! It can get overwhelming trying to keep up with how much creativity occurs in the Doodle Lounge. But that's really not a bad thing!
