NCSO and South Shore Children's Chorus Launch "Find Your Voice"

Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott is expanding his office’s youth programming to incorporate a new summer performing arts leadership academy in partnership with the South Shore Children’s Chorus (SSCC). The Find Your Voice Program will give Norfolk County children between the ages of 13 and 18 an opportunity to explore identity, leadership, and relationship issues through performing arts and various types of self-expression, including public speaking, theater, movement, singing, and more.

“An important aspect of public safety is making early interventions in a child’s life, which requires meeting them where they are,” said Sheriff McDermott. “The Find Your Voice program is yet another way that we can engage with area youth for whom performance and self-expression are important aspects of who they are and how they see the world.”

The Find Your Voice Program will consist of a one-week program in which students learn about identity, social dynamics, and leadership through an exploration of self-expression and performing arts. The week will be led by SSCC staff who are trained in integrating researched-based and CASEL aligned social-emotional learning practices.

SSCC Founder and Artistic Director Kirsten Oberoi described the new program as part of her organization’s search for new and creative ways to engage pre-teens and young adults. “The Find Your Voice Program is totally unique, as it utilizes the arts as a tool to unlock deeper meaning and communication for teens, rather than a performative product,” she said. “The students will imagine and create through social emotional learning exercises, exploring themselves and their purpose – a key aspect that is needed when teaching young people to be strong leaders.”

The Find Your Voice Program will run four one-week sessions from July 17th through August 11th. The program will take place at the CATS Academy, located next door to the NCSO’s Youth Leadership Academy location in Braintree at 2015 Washington Street. Parents interested in learning more or registering their children for this experience can visit www.SSCChorus.org. Because each session is capped at 30 students, registration is expected to fill quickly.

Registration for the program will be $195 per person, and tuition assistance is available for those who complete the application. Registrants can receive a $75 registration discount by entering the code "sheriff2023" at checkout.