Painting workshop teaches children about bullying
Dimitri Papakyriacou has developed a program to address bullying.
Papakyriacou, owner of the Painting with a Twist franchise at 10001 Westheimer Road, said each franchise of the company is encouraged to host “Painting with a Purpose” events.
These workshops benefit a nonprofit or charitable cause.
“Each franchise can do none of it, some of it or a lot of it,” Papakyriacou said.
After discussing the idea with his wife and business partner Alejandra, Papakyriacou decided to host some type of Painting with a Purpose function each month.
When he heard another franchise was focusing on bullying, he wanted to do the same.
“Bullying is one of the most difficult challenges,” he said. “And it can leave a mark for a very long time. It can happen at a public school or a private school, and the abuse is exactly the same.”
He said all students face this issue.
“If you look different, if you don’t conform, bullying happens in a number of situations,” he said.
Papakyriacou said many kids either do not recognize bullying or know how to fight it.
“We wanted to create a visual and interactive way to not only show what bullying is, but also how you stand up to it or how you can help a friend,” he said.
He created a program to present in schools around the city.
First, students watch a short video by the Not in Our Town project, which uses documentary film to stop bullying.
The students then join in a discussion about bullying, an essential conversation for jump-starting change on campus.
“Simple open-ended questions get kids to talk to each other,” Papakyriacou said.
Then, each student sticks a palm into his or her favorite color of paint. They stamp their hands on a 24 by 36 inch canvas and sign their names, pledging to stand up to bullying.
The completed art piece becomes a keepsake for the school and can be placed on display to serve as a visual reminder of the antibullying campaign.
“It’s a daily reminder of the message and they have a connection to it, unlike with other posters,” Papakyriacou said
“It’s something they engaged in and they helped create. Their names are there.
“That seems to resonate with the kids and the educators.”
He has already brought the program to a handful of schools.
“We’re committed to keep doing this for the whole year,” he said. “We’re happy to do it and it’s free of charge.”
Ellen Green, principal at Frostwood Elementary, 12214 Memorial Drive, said the program fits into the campus’ efforts to encourage positive thoughts and actions in pupils.
Members of Frostwood’s “student coalition” were recently invited to attend.
“They’re what we call our up-standers,” Green said.
“They’re chosen by their teachers because they stand up for other kids. They’re an advisory group for our administration.”
The principal said the students enjoyed the project and the finished canvas will be hung in the entry of the school.
“This product is so powerful,” she said.
“Our community is going to be proud. And it’s a great reminder that we’re all here for the benefit of everyone.
“The children signed a contract saying Frostwood is a place where it’s not safe to be a bully.”
Green plans to sign up for the program again next year.
Papakyriacou said bringing this type of program to schools can have an immense impact.
“Whenever you do anything, if you aim it at kids, you get a lot more mileage out of your efforts,” he said.
“If you connect kids with a message, chances are, they will carry it forward.”
Papakyriacou formerly worked selling software in the oil and gas industry, traveling around the world for business.
After his youngest child was born, he and his wife wanted to settle down in one area.
They knew that would require a major career change.
“We looked around at different things to do,” Papakyriacou said. “We came across Painting with a Twist on Westheimer. We loved it.”
The couple took the painting class and during a break, Papakyriacou asked the other customers, who were mainly women, what they enjoyed most about the experience.
“They said, ‘Because it’s a place we can go with our girlfriends, let our hair down, be silly and just be ourselves,’ ’’ Papakyriacou said.
He was sold on the idea. When the owner of the Westheimer franchise later wanted to sell, he and Alejandra jumped at the chance.
“We thought it was opportunity knocking on the door,” he said. “Three or four months later, we were doing really well.”
They eventually purchased franchises in Cypress, Katy and Sugar Land.
The couple opened another location in the Heights about a year and a half ago and are finishing construction on a franchise in Midtown.
“We have a couple more places in mind over the next few years,” he said.
In the meantime, Papakyriacou encourages residents to try a class.
“It’s a very rewarding and fun experience,” he said.
“It’s something you can do with your friends and you leave with something you created on your own.”
He said most of his customers become repeat painters.
“About nine out of 10 people who come here have never painted before,” he said. “People come in smiling and leave laughing.”