We Express Us Through Arts Program
- Akhenaton S. Mikell, MS, Penn Community Scholar, Imani Star Development, and Research & Equity in Academic Community Partnerships for Health (REACH)
- Center for Public Health Initiatives (CPHI), Research & Equity in Academic Community Partnerships for Health (REACH)
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Community Partnerships Grant
Imani Star Development, with support from Research & Equity in Academic Community Partnerships for Health (REACH), will develop and implement The We Express Us Through Arts Program: an eight-week cohort of ten youth from West Philadelphia that will come together weekly for the purpose of expressing themselves via music, dance, fashion, film, and podcasting. The program will engage youth ages 12-18, as this is an age-group facing particular challenges the program aims to address, including the feeling of being unheard. Youth participants will be provided mentorship, instruction, and guidance from local artists. Participants will learn the inner workings of recording music at a professional recording studio, as well as work with professional designers who will assist them in creating their own clothing brands. Participants will develop final projects based on their individual interests, which will be tied to a friendly competition where they’ll be able to showcase their creativity. The overarching goals of the program are to develop team-building and communication skills, and to increase creativity and self-confidence in the participants.