This summer University of Michigan-Flint Social Work associate professor Elizabeth Collardey led a group of young men living at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, Michigan through the intricate paper folding process of making 1,000 origami peace cranes.

A dozen 17 to 22 year-old youthful offenders, who are serving varying sentences at the Lapeer facility, participated in the arts enrichment pilot program.

Elizabeth Collardey, UM-Flint Social Work faculty

Now through December, members of the public can enjoy the group’s colorful peace cranes on display at Flint’s downtown MTA bus station. The cranes were arranged on a tree structure inside the MTA station with assistance from UM-Flint University Outreach and Traci Currie, UM-Flint Communications and Visual Arts lecturer.

The beautiful public exhibit serves as a visual reminder of everyone’s responsibility to take time to understand other people, show compassion, and strive to live in peace.

“I wanted this to be a positive class about peace,” Collardey said while recently visiting the display. “The papers are bold colors. The guys in the program liked the patterned paper the most, and some even drew their own patterns. They learned this so quickly.”

In years past, Collardey worked closely with youth at the Colorado Division of Youth Corrections. This summer seemed to be the right time for her to pilot this program at the Thumb Correctional Facility and once again positively influence youth and their goals for self-improvement.

Peace cranes created by the Thumb Correctional Facility participants.

Two young men who participated in the pilot peace program at Thumb Correctional Facility reflected on the class. Due to confidentiality and facility restrictions, their names were not released for print.

An 18-year old young man living in the facility explained that he grew up in a small town and enjoys nature, helping people, and building things. “Making peace cranes helped me find out that I can get along with a lot of different kinds of people,” he said.

A 20-year-old participant from Lansing, who has his GED, reflected on how his interest in art and working with his hands helped him learn to do the origami project at the facility. At one point, the men were challenged to fold cranes with their eyes closed.

“At first I thought it was impossible,” he said, “but then it was pretty easy just concentrating on the folds. That’s all you need is to know your folds and feel for them. I think making peace cranes with all of us young men was very awesome because we knew it was for a good cause, and everyone talked about stuff with each other. I learned I can be very patient and how I want things to be perfect.”