Community Partner : Baltimore Youth Arts Intern : Zara Hamid Site Supervisor : Leisha Winley
What is Baltimore Youth Arts ?
Baltimore Youth Arts is a creative entrepreneurship and job training program that provides artistic and professional opportunities to young people , ages 14-22 , with a focus on those involved in the justice system . Our mission is to assist young people in gaining the creative , personal , and educational skills that will enable them to become leaders in their communities .
Cofacilitated career readiness class , mentoring Baltimore youth to orient towards higher education , along with teaching necessary job readiness skills Researched grant opportunities and corporate sponsorships to secure funding for the next fiscal year Managed Baltimore Youth Art ' s Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter account through posting content shared by youth artists and optimizing time for best engagement Interviewed staff and youth to write and publish blog posts to Baltimore Youth Arts ' website
Coming into Baltimore Youth Arts ( BYA ) this summer , I had no idea what to expect . My contact with the criminal justice system had been nonexistent , and while I had some experience working with youth , I was intimidated by the thought of instructing youth that were older than me . I came in with an open mind , eager to learn as much as I could about Baltimore city youth and the challenges that they face , with an added goal of trying to expand BYA ' s social media presence and fiscal sponsors . When I first created these goals , I thought it would be an easy done deal , and I would be able to accomplish them within a few short weeks . However , as I worked to find more grants , post to the social media , and interact with youth , I learned just how big of a task this was , the easiest by-far being finding grants . Learning social media skills like making TikToks and Instagram reels , timing posts , captions , and stories , and utilizing hashtags has been a journey that has taken the whole summer .
Interacting with the youth has been the highlight of my experience at BYA , despite the initial worries that I had . Every single youth , regardless of their background and experience with the justice system , was eager to learn and to share . Just as I was teaching the youth about the importance of resumes and how to prepare for interviews , they were teaching me about Baltimore , both its youth and community . I heard heartbreaking stories of loss and grief , and amazing stories of employment , and through it all , I ' ve just begun to understand the Baltimore community . Despite the institutional challenges that these young folk faced , they were thriving in their respective environments . From the youth that were in the criminal justice system , I learned the importance of restorative justice , focusing on rehabilitating the youth . I was able to see it in action , from small arguments in relation to projects to people coming out of a detention center and adjusting to living in the city again , I saw growth in every youth .
Overall , I have learned so much from my mentors and the youth at BYA . However , despite learning so much , I ' m left with just one question : How can I do more ? It ' s a question that I hope to be able to answer as I continue my journey through education and activism .
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