I am the founder and creative director of Black Village Arts, a NYC based black art collective merging community outreach and the arts to service black and brown youth in underfunded communities. We provide safe spaces and access to resources to educate and encourage black and brown youth by people who look like them in the use of different art mediums as forms of expressions and tools that can impact their own communities. We are dedicated to cultivating a safe, affordable and accessible foundation that supports the future of all kids, especially black and brown kids who deserve the same artistic opportunities as their peers.
The space would be used by Black Village Arts to spearhead art based workshops for BIPOC youth that focus on tools of self-sufficiency and community impact we can then connect to our community outreach projects. Our program is different because we believe in not only educating and allowing the youth to express themselves but also moving past a classroom setting and partnering them with our artists to work on projects in real life spaces.
Peerspace is on a mission to bring people together. We believe it is impossible to achieve that goal unless we also fight for equality and access to resources in the communities we serve.
Having a space to gather, create, and exchange ideas is an important part of any movement. In order to magnify voices that are often quieted, Peerspace will sponsor venues for people who challenge prejudice and fight for social justice and equality.
Each quarter, we will sponsor space for three projects that are relevant to our community. These projects can range from fundraisers and educational initiatives to art exhibits and photo series.
