About Craft Club
Mission
Craft Club provides after school classes, summer sessions, and other programs to promote and develop young people’'s artistic and creative skills.
Often with no prior experience or access to hands on craft and art activities, our students gain self-confidence and social skills in their ability to create and express themselves through crafting in a trusting and supportive environment.
We are based in Boston, and have been offering programs beginning in 2015.
Leadership
Jasmin Hagen
Jasmin Hagen, Craft Club’s co-founder, LICSW, grew up in the Ozarks and has been in the Boston area for the past 15 years. She received a Bachelor's degree in human services at University Massachusetts Boston and a Masters in Social Work from Simmons University. Jasmin is a clinical social worker in the Boston Public Schools focusing on trauma and special education. Jasmin believes in the magic of making and connecting with others.
Cris Jaffe
Craft Club’s co-founder is a craft enthusiast and Jane of all trades. Cris splits her time between Seattle, New York and Boston. Cris is dedicated to empowering young people to make beautiful things and capitalize on their natural talent.
History
A message from Jasmin Hagen, Craft Club Founder…
“In third grade, I spent recess sitting in the grass weaving friendship bracelets. As the days passed, more and more kids joined me and our circle grew. My Grandmother was delighted that I was embracing textiles and filled an old cookie tin with embroidery floss and sewing supplies for my friends and me to share. We taught each other new and different techniques, added beads and perfected knots while chatting about our days. When we finished, we traded and gifted our creations, and my friends and I proudly wore our bracelets until they fell off.”
“A few summers later I was invited to spend the summer with my aunt Cris who lived in Seattle. She had an entire room dedicated just to making things. Her stash of supplies captivated me and she encouraged me to make anything I wanted. Aunt Cris set out supplies for my cousins and me to use, and every day we created. Pipe cleaners, glitter, sequins, modge podge, stickers; the inventory felt limitless and so did I.”
“As I made my way through some stressful high school years I leaned heavily on my ability to make things. Crafting gave me comfort and always felt familiar. It was a healing practice during a time when so much was uncertain. It continues to be therapeutic, meditative, relaxing, and inspiring. It can push you to explore new mediums and can help you connect with the world around you and years past. A few years ago, I began integrating art and crafting into my clinical school social work in Boston. My students’ response was amazing. They maintained focus, showed pride in their projects, tried new things, and shared with me a vulnerable side of themselves. I saw firsthand the power of crafting with young people. ”
“I realized I wanted to extend this experience to more students in my school where there was a void of after-school art offerings. I talked with Aunt Cris about my dream, and from our discussion we hatched Craft Club. In January 2015 we launched our first club with 8 students.
Craft Club started off as a small group of middle school students joining together to make things and quickly grew into a nurturing space where “mistakes” are part of the process and individuality is praised. Students take time to learn new skills, problem solve, and share their work and their process with others.”
Please join us as we build Craft Club to give students the supplies and curriculum to create in a safe space with educators to support, challenge, and inspire them.