Project Description
The "I AM BEACH" project and initiative will focus on transforming perceptions of youth in my community, including self perspectives. The project is a youth-led community initiative that will place art instillations in spaces where community members and youth frequent. The projected sites are Our Safeway, Rainier Beach Community Center and New Holly Family Center. Each site will create an art piece that will be showcased there. Each art installment will be created by a team of 5-10 youth artists and 2 artist mentors. Each art piece will feature a positive image of youth of color with the intention of dismantling negative perceptions within the community and Seattle at large as well as youth self worth. The big dream of this project is to begin to reverse cultural trauma of racism and poverty and allow community members to engage with another in ways to celebrate their home and identity (racially, culturally, religiously and sexuality). Additionally, there will be a board of directors made up of 50% youth and 50% parents/community members who will make decisions about engaging stakeholders, planning events and interacting with media. During the project, there will be monthly community gatherings where youth will host meetings and listening circles to share their current process and invite other community members to join.
After speaking with neighbors during surveys and listening projects, it is evident that youth in this community face major barriers in their success and do not need the barrier of lack of self worth to be further deterrent to living into their potential. I hear through my work so many youth ( especially black boys) state that their expectations of self are low because that is what people expect.
My community would be different after this project because youth would have something that they created themselves and would be proud. They would see their potential because of the hard work they put in. Additionally, people who visit the sites will see these positive images and be asked to participate in surveys that will engage them in questions like, what does this image say to you about youth in our community, in order to to involve as many people as possible and to collect as much data to add to this positive YOC identity building initiative.
The project will be successful when the three images are completed, the documentary is ready to be screened and the youth have successfully hosted monthly gatherings that propelled the community into positive relationship building. It will be successful when I hear youth talk about their project and smile and laugh and call others into seeing what they are doing in our community.
After speaking with neighbors during surveys and listening projects, it is evident that youth in this community face major barriers in their success and do not need the barrier of lack of self worth to be further deterrent to living into their potential. I hear through my work so many youth ( especially black boys) state that their expectations of self are low because that is what people expect.
My community would be different after this project because youth would have something that they created themselves and would be proud. They would see their potential because of the hard work they put in. Additionally, people who visit the sites will see these positive images and be asked to participate in surveys that will engage them in questions like, what does this image say to you about youth in our community, in order to to involve as many people as possible and to collect as much data to add to this positive YOC identity building initiative.
The project will be successful when the three images are completed, the documentary is ready to be screened and the youth have successfully hosted monthly gatherings that propelled the community into positive relationship building. It will be successful when I hear youth talk about their project and smile and laugh and call others into seeing what they are doing in our community.
The 5-Steps to Begin this Project
1. Identify mentors to provide advice on project creation, delegation, sustainability and completion.
2. Research and interview receivers of King County's Summer Opportunity Grant that is awarded to a youth led initiative that is focused on youth/boys of color.
3. Build a team with allegiance to this project.
4. Develop relationships with store owners at proposed sites and begin negotiating with them about project details.
5. Begin recruiting youth artists and artist mentors as well as board members who have strong vision/interest in project
2. Research and interview receivers of King County's Summer Opportunity Grant that is awarded to a youth led initiative that is focused on youth/boys of color.
3. Build a team with allegiance to this project.
4. Develop relationships with store owners at proposed sites and begin negotiating with them about project details.
5. Begin recruiting youth artists and artist mentors as well as board members who have strong vision/interest in project