Hello everyone and welcome to the Intentional Expressions Podcast with host Peter Carpou, helping you rethink, create, and empower through the social impact of artistic expression.

In this episode, Peter begins with a poem and explores the transformative role of art and craft in the lives of youth who have faced profound hardship. Many young people navigate histories of abuse, neglect, addiction, and homelessness—often making the impossible choice between staying in dangerous environments or stepping into the unknown without a support system.

The trauma of isolation, compounded by exploitation and the absence of family or community, leaves them drifting in a space of uncertainty. Through creative expression, however, there is a path toward healing and self-discovery. Peter reflects on the ways in which art can provide stability, a voice, and even a sense of belonging for those who have been left to navigate crisis alone.