Steel is an incredibly strong alloy of iron and carbon. Due to its incredible strength and durability, this resilient material is commonly used for constructing buildings. The transitive verb "steeling" is defined in Miriam-Webster dictionary as "to fill with resolution or determination, as in, she 'steeled herself to face the crisis'" (Steel, 2014). It means to mentally prepare oneself to do or face something difficult. This article explores the concept of "steeling" within a resilience approach to arts education for youth exposed to violence. It draws upon the author's work in urban areas, both in and out of school settings. The author presents an overview of societal violence and associated trauma, then introduces resilience theory based on relevant research and makes a case for its relationship to creativity. She concludes with practical considerations for fostering resilience through art. Art educators can play an important role in preventing devastating effects of trauma by fostering resilience through art, and by asking students to focus on their strengths.