Cultivating Youth Leadership Through Art and Creativity
This Fall, we proudly welcomed nearly 80 motivated teens from the South Bay area to the ARTS Center for our Community ARTS Program. This unique initiative serves young people aged 12 to 18 to express themselves creatively while taking an active role in strengthening their communities.
At the heart of the Community ARTS Program is the belief that art can be a powerful vehicle for voice, vision and positive change. Through hands-on projects, participants not only explore a variety of artistic mediums but also develop essential leadership skills through community engagement opportunities. They are encouraged to collaborate, communicate, and engage with their peers, fostering teamwork and mutual respect - while working on creative projects and events together.
This year, we were particularly inspired by the seven young artists who showcased exceptional leadership abilities in the classroom and during community events. These talented individuals took the initiative to submit applications for the Play It Forward! Community Service Scholarship, in partnership with the Collins Arts & Sport Foundation, recognizing the importance of giving back and sharing their perspective through their art.
Check out some highlights from our conversation with these extraordinary youth leaders:
Are there things you can say with your art and creativity that is hard to say with words?
Markie: Sometimes talking about stuff that's going on in your life is really difficult. So being able to express it by showing it with things I like, like paintings, it makes it easier to, you know, to cope with it and explain it to people.
Age: 17
School: Sweetwater High School
Community ARTS Project Team: Paintings and Illustration
Joined ARTS: Fall 2024
Ada: You can say these very well-known words that are really hard to say. Things like, I love you, you hurt me, or I'm sorry. You could say a lot of that in your art.
Age: 18
School: Altus Secondary
Community ARTS Project Team: Paintings and Illustration + Thrift Flip
Joined ARTS: Spring 2023
How does art in creativity support your mental health and well-being?
Ada: Art can give you a great break and a great purpose. When I didn't have these classes after school, I'd spend my time trying to find something to do... I had no idea what to do with my time, and this is a great way to spend my time helping others and being in the community.
Mario: Being here and just doing art in general is just a good stress reliever because it helps you put aside things, things like school or work, and it lets you focus on, you know, art or music. It's just a good way to de-stress after being in school for like six hours.
Age: 17
School: Sweetwater High School
Community ARTS Project Team: Sound & Technology
Joined ARTS: Fall 2024
Teresa: Well, for me, maybe it could be the time of the youth arts festival. By the time I was talking and having so many people around me listening to everything I was saying, I think what made me less nervous was having my friend next to me. I think that's what made me feel better.
[Spanish Translation]
Age: 16
School: Sweetwater High School
Community ARTS Project Team: Sound & Technology
Joined ARTS: Fall 2024
Elizabeth: In the case of painting, I think certain words or certain feelings. There are certain feelings that cannot be expressed very well with words that we can express by drawing. And there are times when the drawing is not so specific, but the people who see it can feel that and I think that being able to do it is something very nice.
[Spanish Translation]
Age: 16
School: Sweetwater High School
Community ARTS Project Team: Paintings and Illustration
Joined ARTS: Spring 2024
How have you grown as a leader through community-based work and public art projects?
Andrea: I think that because you're put in a situation where you have to work with people and talk with the community and stuff, your social skills, build off of that, and then your leadership skills build off that.
Age: 16
School: Sweetwater High School
Community ARTS Project Team: Thrift Flip
Joined ARTS: Fall 2024
Markie: Having all these opportunities, like Dia de los Muertos and stuff... I've been able to raise my voice and, well, find my voice because I really wasn't a person of many words. I would always stay quiet. But now I have a reason to talk, to express my emotions, and to let people know that this is why this is a great place.
Charlotte: I grew as a leader because art gives you time to show what you're good at. It can give people a new hobby or a new skill to be interested in.
Age: 12
School: National City Middle School
Community ARTS Project Team: Painting and Installation
Joined ARTS: Spring 2023
Through their reflections, these young artists showed how deeply art and creativity influence their identities and values. Many shared that creating art helped them recognize the change they want to see in their communities, which inspired them to lead projects that speak to their vision for the future. This experience goes beyond personal growth; it also fosters conversations that contribute to stronger communities, representing the next generation of leaders.
As these young leaders continue to define their roles in the community through creativity and collective action, we look forward to sharing their journeys and the inspiring projects they continue to create. Their stories remind us that art and creativity can inspire action and elevate voices within our communities, and our world.
Join us in celebrating the power of youth leadership through art, and stay tuned for updates on the incredible contributions these young artists will make in shaping a brighter future for us all. Your support is essential in co-creating opportunities for these young leaders and their inspiring projects.
Your donation can help sustain the programming just like this: www.givebutter.com/100daysofARTS
