DEI Statement

Numerous published, peer-reviewed research studies demonstrate that art reduces the effects of trauma and facilitates the development of self-esteem, coping, life, and critical thinking skills in youth. Studies show that creating facilitates healing in the areas of the brain affected by trauma. The youth we serve lack access to art, creating an inequity in their ability to recover from their trauma and develop critical thinking and life skills that could improve their life prospects. Youth with unaddressed trauma are at higher risk of teen pregnancies, addiction, mental illness, and lack of education and interaction with the justice system, that lead to lifelong addiction, violence, and poor health.

Free Arts disrupts this inequity by engaging underserved youth in culturally and linguistically responsive art workshops, allowing them to begin healing from their trauma, addressing their mental health needs, and developing critical thinking, social, communication, and advocacy skills that improve their life prospects. Free Arts staff and teaching artists are trained as mentors and sourced from the underserved communities where Free Arts works. Youth develop a positive relationship with a culturally responsive adult role model that coaches and mentors them to develop coping, communication, advocacy, and social skills and helps them develop a lifelong outlet for negative emotions through art.

Free Arts curriculum is culturally and linguistically responsive to the youth we serve in colors, genres, subjects, and themes. It also includes art history for each culturally responsive subject and art project. Youth develop pride in their own culture and learn more about others and how they differ or are the same.