December 16, 2007
Rose Schweig
Regional Director, Drawbridge Arts Program for Homeless Children

 Ten years ago when Rose Schweig saw a flyer calling for volunteers to do art with homeless children in the bay area, she never imagined that today she would serve as the Santa Cruz Regional Director for that program. At the time Schweig was a high school student from San Rafael who loved art and thought she might like to work with kids in some capacity someday. She had no idea the impact answering the call on that flyer would have on her life. With an Art Degree now from the University of California at Santa Cruz , she says she is still amazed at how this program has changed her life.  Drawbridge: An Arts Program for Homeless Children was founded in 1989 by Gloria Simoneaux. After graduating from the California Institute of Integral Studies with a master’s degree in counseling psychology to accompany her bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, Simoneaux was introduced to children living in homeless shelters and other difficult situations by her brother who worked as a doctor at the St. Anthony Free Medical Clinic in San Francisco. According to Schweig, Simoneaux was so moved by the children at the Hamilton Family Shelter, she told them that if they would pay her $10 an hour for a week that she would get a grant. They agreed and soon Drawbridge was born.

The organization sets up arts programs in various shelters and low-income housing neighorhoods. A group of volunteers, led by a facilitator arrives at the site with high quality art supplies. They set up shop in a safe area for the children and establish ground rules which the kids seem to be pretty good about respecting. According to Schweig they actually seem to welcome the clear guidelines. They work with children from four years and up, although as Schweig points out sometimes kids will bring their much younger siblings to the group. 

Over the years, Schweig has seen many volcanoes and images of people dying. Houses floating almost as if they are not really there is another common theme. “The kids don’t analyze the art like we do,” Schweig said. “One girl always wanted to make cards for her parents telling them how much she loved them and how pretty her mom was. It makes you wonder how much love they are getting at home.”

Drawbridge offers the children an opportunity to spend quality time with stable adults in a healthy situation. It offers a break from the instability in their regular lives and a glimpse of how things can be. It also gives them, what in many cases might be a rare chance to voice their own thoughts and feelings and be validated. There is a teen assistance program where older kids can earn some money to work for the program. Schweig has recruited a few former students who had begun to get into some trouble. Having some responsibility and especially having the younger children look up to them has turned their lives around.

With programs in six counties around the bay area already, Schweig is helping to get the next branch in San Jose off the ground. As regional director in Santa Cruz , she does a lot of outreach in the community and is looking to expand into Watsonville and beyond. Fundraising events and grants keep the organization afloat, but it is clear that working with the kids directly is what keeps Schweig as inspired and motivated as ever.  

To find out more about Drawbridge you can visit their website at http://www.drawbridge.org/. If you click on the link that says Director Wins Prestigious Award you will find a wonderful clip from a piece done by television station KPIX as well as an article from the San Francisco Chronicle. You can contact Rose Shweig at P.O. Box 1077 , Santa Cruz , CA. 95061, (831) 460-9953, or [email protected].