Creative Resilient Youth
Year
2018 - Present
Audience
Philadelphia youth (14 - 24 years old)
Curent Role
Special Advisor
Past Roles
Co-Founder
Director of Strategy and Partnerships
Acting Executive Director
Responsibilities
Coaching young leaders, facilitation, program development, research, strategic planning, partnerships, finances, fiscal sponsorships, payroll, board relations, fundraising and development, staff professional development, public profile building, and operations
Overview
Creative Resilient Youth (CRY) began in 2018 as an eight session pilot program to introduce Philadelphia area teens to mental health, socially engaged art, and community organizing. After 8 sessions, the founding youth cohort presented a larger vision for the future of CRY. With support from adult facilitators the program expanded to include a year long program that culminated in an annual public exhibition.
Today, CRY offers youth-led art workshops in schools, drop-in programming, opportunities to co-design digital health technology, and mental health leadership training to ensure youth have access to community, creative spaces, and peer support.
I initiated CRY with Bennett Kuhn, Felicia Blow, and Michelle Delgado with seed funding from The Velocity Fund.
Creative Resilient Youth (CRY) began in 2018 as an eight session pilot program to introduce Philadelphia area teens to mental health, socially engaged art, and community organizing. After 8 sessions, the founding youth cohort presented a larger vision for the future of CRY. With support from adult facilitators the program expanded to include a year long program that culminated in an annual public exhibition.
Today, CRY offers youth-led art workshops in schools, drop-in programming, opportunities to co-design digital health technology, and mental health leadership training to ensure youth have access to community, creative spaces, and peer support.
I initiated CRY with Bennett Kuhn, Felicia Blow, and Michelle Delgado with seed funding from The Velocity Fund.
Approach
The Creative Resilient Youth (CRY) program centers practices rooted in collective study, healing, and action.
The first year of CRY emphasizes relationship and trust building, co-learning, and art making as methods for developing shared language and a critical understanding of self-determined mental health and care. This foundational year culminates in an art exhibit and panel discussion in mid-June. CRY youth take a summer of rest before reconvening in September to develop a series of youth-led art and community action projects.
In their second year, CRY focuses on creative action projects (e.g. mutual aid, campaigns, or socially engaged art projects) with community-based partners that will culminate in another public engagement in June to celebrate youth learning and growth.
Healing practices are central to CRY programming. Throughout the two-year program, youth are led through restorative art, healing, and reflective practices to help define and communicate care for themselves on their own terms.
The Creative Resilient Youth (CRY) program centers practices rooted in collective study, healing, and action.
The first year of CRY emphasizes relationship and trust building, co-learning, and art making as methods for developing shared language and a critical understanding of self-determined mental health and care. This foundational year culminates in an art exhibit and panel discussion in mid-June. CRY youth take a summer of rest before reconvening in September to develop a series of youth-led art and community action projects.
In their second year, CRY focuses on creative action projects (e.g. mutual aid, campaigns, or socially engaged art projects) with community-based partners that will culminate in another public engagement in June to celebrate youth learning and growth.
Healing practices are central to CRY programming. Throughout the two-year program, youth are led through restorative art, healing, and reflective practices to help define and communicate care for themselves on their own terms.
Credits
StaffAvani Alvarez
Mason McAvoy
Co-initiatorsMichelle Lee Delgado
Felicia Blow
Bennett Kuhn
Andrea Ngan
FundersStoneleigh Foundation
Barra Foundation
Douty Fund
Philadelphia Cultural Fund
Added Velocity Fund
The Velocity Fund
Fiscal sponsorsAsian Arts Initiative
Slought Foundation (from 2018 to 2022)
StaffAvani Alvarez
Mason McAvoy
Co-initiatorsMichelle Lee Delgado
Felicia Blow
Bennett Kuhn
Andrea Ngan
FundersStoneleigh Foundation
Barra Foundation
Douty Fund
Philadelphia Cultural Fund
Added Velocity Fund
The Velocity Fund
Fiscal sponsorsAsian Arts Initiative
Slought Foundation (from 2018 to 2022)