Mentoring Arts and Literacy

We establish multidisciplinary, multimedia coLABorative spaces in schools, during school hours, in highly diverse and under resourced schools.  The program extends over 12 one-hour sessions (across 12 weeks) with 20 youth and 5 artists.  During the first six weeks, we work with Language Arts teachers to first support youth in creating stories based in youth interests, concerns, and communities. Over the next six weeks, artists mentor youth in transforming their stories through their chosen art form (e.g., video, costuming, digital comic, music, dance).  Artists support youth in performing their stories for wider school and community audiences.  We aim to offer a guided, accessible arts mentoring experience for middle grade youth that culminates in a public performance and exhibit for school and community members.