Youth 4 Arts Program
Youth 4 Arts Program (Y4A)
Releasing creativity and building confidence
Program Description: Engaging young people through youth-led programs in the arts, communications, media, graphic design and sports.
Our Y4A program creates opportunities for youth to engage with each other, develop skills and give back to their communities through visual arts, performing arts, and vocational arts. We believe that empowered and engaged youths are the key to building stronger, more resilient communities. This Y4A program gives teens and young adults an opportunity to tell their stories in unique ways, build confidence and express their creative selves. This program will help develop critical thinking, self-discipline, self-esteem and teamwork. Our participatory, youth-led approach ensures our programs respond to the realities of the youth we engage and creates opportunities for them to develop leadership, intellectual discipline, decision-making and effective communication, amongst many other key skills.
Releasing creativity and building confidence
Program Description: Engaging young people through youth-led programs in the arts, communications, media, graphic design and sports.
Our Y4A program creates opportunities for youth to engage with each other, develop skills and give back to their communities through visual arts, performing arts, and vocational arts. We believe that empowered and engaged youths are the key to building stronger, more resilient communities. This Y4A program gives teens and young adults an opportunity to tell their stories in unique ways, build confidence and express their creative selves. This program will help develop critical thinking, self-discipline, self-esteem and teamwork. Our participatory, youth-led approach ensures our programs respond to the realities of the youth we engage and creates opportunities for them to develop leadership, intellectual discipline, decision-making and effective communication, amongst many other key skills.
YOUTH 4 ARTS SUB-PROGRAMS
#1 Visual Arts
1. Photography
Project: Cameras for Youths
Cameras for Youths enable youths to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through the appreciation of photography. The projects are designed to help youths ages 13-21 go beyond taking selfies and develop the necessary skills to take photographs that can really impact the viewer. The current popularity and accessibility of photography makes it a powerful means to engage youths in creative programming, while simultaneously teaching them skills they will use for the rest of their lives and even for a job. For some youths, photography opens a door to creative self-expression that no other art form allows. Some may even discover a career path.
2. Fashion Design and Sculpture
Project: Our Local Heritage
The Our Local Heritage project model encourages youth to learn more about their community’s and/or country’s past and engages them in creating traditional clothing, arts and crafts, sharing their knowledge with the general public, and ensuring their culture’s rich heritage stays alive in the modern era. This project model has three main components:
•Researching their community’s/country’s cultural traditions
•Creating folk clothing, arts and crafts
•Sharing cultural knowledge with a broader audience
3. Painting and Drawing
Project: The Art Therapy
The Art Therapy is a Visual Arts Project that aims to support the positive development of youth and promote art literacy. The program offers weekly classes, workshops and events in which community youths in grades 6-12 learn the fundamentals of drawing and painting and participate in creative projects. Each summer youths have the opportunity to showcase their work at our Annual Community Health Fair.
1. Photography
Project: Cameras for Youths
Cameras for Youths enable youths to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through the appreciation of photography. The projects are designed to help youths ages 13-21 go beyond taking selfies and develop the necessary skills to take photographs that can really impact the viewer. The current popularity and accessibility of photography makes it a powerful means to engage youths in creative programming, while simultaneously teaching them skills they will use for the rest of their lives and even for a job. For some youths, photography opens a door to creative self-expression that no other art form allows. Some may even discover a career path.
2. Fashion Design and Sculpture
Project: Our Local Heritage
The Our Local Heritage project model encourages youth to learn more about their community’s and/or country’s past and engages them in creating traditional clothing, arts and crafts, sharing their knowledge with the general public, and ensuring their culture’s rich heritage stays alive in the modern era. This project model has three main components:
•Researching their community’s/country’s cultural traditions
•Creating folk clothing, arts and crafts
•Sharing cultural knowledge with a broader audience
3. Painting and Drawing
Project: The Art Therapy
The Art Therapy is a Visual Arts Project that aims to support the positive development of youth and promote art literacy. The program offers weekly classes, workshops and events in which community youths in grades 6-12 learn the fundamentals of drawing and painting and participate in creative projects. Each summer youths have the opportunity to showcase their work at our Annual Community Health Fair.
#2 Performing Arts
1. Drama/Dance
Project: Youth on Stage
Many young people dream of becoming Hollywood actors or dancing graduate from The Julliard School. Theater can bring more than just entertainment and recognition. By following the Youth on Stage project model, youth can use theater to start dialogue and engage their peers in lively discussions on important issues of their interest. Project participants will also hone their acting and dancing and develop their self-confidence and public speaking skills.
This project model has three variations:
1. Using improvisational theater
2. Writing complete scripts in advance
3. Enhancing physical stamina
This project will result in performances that engage our peers in discussions about serious, often taboo, issues faced by youth – and leave them with information and ideas for action. Youth participants will gain public speaking and acting/dancing skills and develop their self-confidence.
2. Music/Singing/Poetry/Comedy
Project: One Voice
The Voice is a program designed to develop and magnify the powerful voices of youths age 13-21. Recognizing the power of the literary arts, The Voice positions youths as torch bearers and experts in the oral poetic traditions that continue to thrive around the world.
The program gives teens an opportunity to tell their stories, build community, and express their artistic visions through the music of Reggae and Dancehall culture. One Voice gives young people positive outlets for creative self-expression, and many have a keen interest in the performing arts. One Voice develops critical thinking, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-confidence and teamwork.
The goal of the One Voice project is to promote young people’s natural love for music, poetry, and comedy and to increase their appreciation of this art form.
1. Drama/Dance
Project: Youth on Stage
Many young people dream of becoming Hollywood actors or dancing graduate from The Julliard School. Theater can bring more than just entertainment and recognition. By following the Youth on Stage project model, youth can use theater to start dialogue and engage their peers in lively discussions on important issues of their interest. Project participants will also hone their acting and dancing and develop their self-confidence and public speaking skills.
This project model has three variations:
1. Using improvisational theater
2. Writing complete scripts in advance
3. Enhancing physical stamina
This project will result in performances that engage our peers in discussions about serious, often taboo, issues faced by youth – and leave them with information and ideas for action. Youth participants will gain public speaking and acting/dancing skills and develop their self-confidence.
2. Music/Singing/Poetry/Comedy
Project: One Voice
The Voice is a program designed to develop and magnify the powerful voices of youths age 13-21. Recognizing the power of the literary arts, The Voice positions youths as torch bearers and experts in the oral poetic traditions that continue to thrive around the world.
The program gives teens an opportunity to tell their stories, build community, and express their artistic visions through the music of Reggae and Dancehall culture. One Voice gives young people positive outlets for creative self-expression, and many have a keen interest in the performing arts. One Voice develops critical thinking, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-confidence and teamwork.
The goal of the One Voice project is to promote young people’s natural love for music, poetry, and comedy and to increase their appreciation of this art form.
#3 Vocational Arts
1. Culinary
Project: Holiday Baking Challenge & Healthy Kids Competition
Our Holiday Baking Challenge and Healthy Kids Competition is designed to give youth an opportunity to experience hands on training while preparing them for real life experiences in the culinary world. This project will provide youth with the best opportunities to practice and master the technical and delicate culinary skills required to obtain entry level jobs or further their culinary training with a major head start.
2. General Automotive*
Project: The Fast & The Fiery
The Fast & The Fiery is a friendly competition between youths who have participated in this program with hands on experience working on a car, van, or truck. Youths will have the chance to learn about vehicle maintenance, exercise their analytical and problem-solving skills, increase their attention to detail, and develop a good work ethic. This project will give our youth a great opportunity to acquire technical skills and improve work ethic.
3. Cosmetology*
Project: Empowered By Style
Who doesn't love a fresh cut or a glamorous look? Empowered By Style is an interactive workshop that teaches boys and girls the basics of cosmetology. Youths will learn and practice how to wash, cut and style hair, apply makeup, or prep, design and polish nails. At the end of the workshop, youths will each choose a desired cosmetic treatment to do on a person who volunteers to get that service done. Cosmetic treatments include cutting and styling, manicures/pedicures, men's grooming and makeup. Youths will be able to learn and practice expressive creativity, customer service skills, cleanliness and organization, and time management skills.
1. Culinary
Project: Holiday Baking Challenge & Healthy Kids Competition
Our Holiday Baking Challenge and Healthy Kids Competition is designed to give youth an opportunity to experience hands on training while preparing them for real life experiences in the culinary world. This project will provide youth with the best opportunities to practice and master the technical and delicate culinary skills required to obtain entry level jobs or further their culinary training with a major head start.
2. General Automotive*
Project: The Fast & The Fiery
The Fast & The Fiery is a friendly competition between youths who have participated in this program with hands on experience working on a car, van, or truck. Youths will have the chance to learn about vehicle maintenance, exercise their analytical and problem-solving skills, increase their attention to detail, and develop a good work ethic. This project will give our youth a great opportunity to acquire technical skills and improve work ethic.
3. Cosmetology*
Project: Empowered By Style
Who doesn't love a fresh cut or a glamorous look? Empowered By Style is an interactive workshop that teaches boys and girls the basics of cosmetology. Youths will learn and practice how to wash, cut and style hair, apply makeup, or prep, design and polish nails. At the end of the workshop, youths will each choose a desired cosmetic treatment to do on a person who volunteers to get that service done. Cosmetic treatments include cutting and styling, manicures/pedicures, men's grooming and makeup. Youths will be able to learn and practice expressive creativity, customer service skills, cleanliness and organization, and time management skills.