What Changes When AOD Is Present

Art Over Destruction helps young people feel calmer, more focused, and more in control before problems turn into crises.

When youth are given the right environment, behavior improves naturally.

Pilot snapshot (early results).
Data from teacher observations during CalmLab pilots (classrooms + after-school settings, 2024–2025). Results vary by site and implementation.

What Youth Experience

After taking part in AOD programs, youth often show:

• Better focus

• Calmer reactions

• Healthier choices

• More follow-through

• More confidence

How This Impact Happens

AOD creates simple, calm creative spaces where youth can:

• Slow down

• Focus on one task

• Express themselves safely

• Practice finishing what they start

When the space is stable, growth follows.

Where This Works

AOD’s impact has been seen in:

• Schools

• Community spaces

• Youth programs

• Multiple U.S. cities

Because this approach is about the environment, results are steady across different settings.

Why This Matters

Most programs step in after problems happen.
AOD works before that point.

By helping youth regulate early, AOD helps reduce:

• Classroom disruptions

• Behavior blowups

• Barriers to joining in

This supports healthier long-term outcomes.

Impact That Lasts

AOD’s results come from:

• Structure

• Consistency

• Creative engagement

This makes the impact sustainable, scalable, and easy to use in many settings.

Summary

AOD improves focus, emotional control, and decision-making in at-risk youth by building calm, structured creative environments before crisis occurs.
Impact observed across U.S. cities since 2012.