Visual Arts Programs - Take heArt
"A picture tells a thousand stories," is very true for the troubled youth that we serve. Through drawing, painting, collages, photography, graphic and web design, high-risk youth can find release from their traumatic experiences by using the visual arts for expression. At the end of the programs, the kids have lasting souvenirs that they can share with their families and friends. We provide them with opportunities to publicly exhibit and sell their artwork.
Featured Program: Debra Wilson Brings Fun Times To Homeless Shelter
Create Now was delighted when Debra Wilson (actress/comedian, “MADtv”) agreed to star in our new Public Service Announcement (PSA), which you can view below. We set up a one-time Music and Art Workshop at Comunidad Cesar Chavez, an emergency shelter in Boyle Heights for homeless families. They have around 30 young children living there for up to four months.
Debra planned to help out for just a few hours, but once there, she fell in love with the kids! As a result, she volunteers her time every other Sunday afternoon to interact with the children. Sometimes she reads them books, putting all of her passion and energy to make the characters come alive. Other times, Debra guides them to make a variety of arts and crafts projects.”
For Halloween, Debra helped the children to make bright, sparkling pumpkin pictures, which they personalized and hung on their doors for trick-or-treating at the shelter. They also had a blast decorating ginger cookies with black icing and candy, thanks to a donation from Christopher Ameruoso. Last week, Debra bought thousands of glow beads so the children can create beautiful bracelets and rings for themselves and their loved ones.
Featured Program: Exploring Life Through Painting
David Aswad is an artist who owns a profitable company in the apparel industry. Now that his daughter has gone to college, he wanted to share his passion for art with those less fortunate. Create Now worked with staff at L.A. Family Housing (LAFH), a homeless shelter in North Hollywood, to set up a Painting Workshop. Los Angeles is the Homeless Capital of the U.S., with over 88,000 people homeless on any night.
Like a chronic disease, it’s challenging to stop the cycle of homelessness, which impacts tens of thousands of local youth, because homeless kids experience higher rates of unemployment, lower educational attainment, incarceration, non-marital childbirth and other high-risk behaviors.
One solution is to help children and adults to connect better during stressful times, and to build their confidence and self-esteem with arts mentoring. Through David’s Painting Workshop, parents and their children are bonding as they discover hidden talents. They’re proud to share their artwork with the 60 families living at the shelter in an Art Show currently on display. This is David’s story:
Read about some of our recent Featured Programs
Graphic & Web Design Helps Substance Abusers
Lennox Park Community Mural A Big Success
Incarcerated Girls Find Relief Through Arts
Troubled Girls Open Up Through Arts
Arts Calm Down Teens
A Jungle Story
Fine Art Inspires Foster Kids
Girls’ Detention Facility - Your Donations at Work
Create Now Youth Give Peace a Chance
Women's Shelter of Long Beach
Upward Bound
Special thanks to the sponsors of our Take heArt program
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the Department of Cultural Affairs.