ARTS 4 Justice Expanding Reach and Impact
This summer, ARTS has grown our partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education and the Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCS) program. We are excited to introduce our legacy projects at two new school sites—one located in City Heights and the other in San Ysidro.
Meeting youth where they are -- within their schools — with projects that excite them and allow them to see themselves reflected is what sets ARTS apart. Our teaching artists are dedicated to guiding young people as they explore their identities and find their sense of belonging. This commitment makes us an ideal partner for such initiatives.
Sheena Rae Dowling has extensive experience in teaching and leading artistic projects. For the past couple of years, she has led several of our ARTS on Campus Legacy Projects and our Community ARTS Paintings and Murals program. This summer, she joined our ARTS 4 Justice program, taking on the exciting role of guiding students in creating their first-ever large-scale mural inside the JCCS 37ECB school site in City Heights. She remarked, “The space welcomed us with a lot of love and community. It felt truly wonderful to work with this new group of students and their amazing teacher.” The students eagerly shared their ideas for enhancing their environment, and the mural was infused with symbols of belonging and connectedness.
The energy and creativity of the students shone brightly as they, along with educators, parents, and interns, came together to paint. The young artists shared inspiring insights that beautifully captured the essence of this collaborative experience.
“I liked that you could put your ideas on smaller paper and then see it get scaled up big on the wall. It was good that some people got to do art for the first time and see if they liked it.”
A very special day when several parents of the youth artists joined in to paint!
“It was fun and you got the chance to try different things than we have done before with art.”
“I like that we had the chance to paint and try new things”
“We get to express ourselves.”
“Knowledge is the key to success. Hard work is the door. School is a source of light. Let it shine on you every day.”
Ulises Galicia also shared some insights as a new ARTS 4 Justice Teaching Artist at another new JCCS site in San Ysidro. They described their inspiring journey to becoming an art teacher and the profound impact that art has had on their life. Uli emphasized how participating in various arts programs during their childhood helped shape their passion for creativity. Although they initially pursued a degree in graphic design, they ultimately found their true calling in teaching.
Uli highlighted the importance of making the arts accessible to young people. Before becoming a Teaching Artist with the ARTS on Campus program over a year ago, Uli spent two years as a full-time art teacher at Monarch School. While the demands of a full-time teaching role required extensive curriculum planning, Uli found that their position at ARTS allows for a more relaxed and hands-on approach. This flexibility enables them to engage with youth and connect with them on their level.
Uli shared how fulfilling their involvement with ARTS 4 Justice has been, as they connect deeply with students who often remind them of their own upbringing. They recalled a moment when the students wanted to include graffiti in their project, and Uli responded, “I did that too when I was your age! It’s all fun and games, right? But it’s not fun and games when you’re on parole. If you get caught doing things like that, it can really change your life.” Uli encouraged the students, saying, “We could still incorporate that idea into our mural, though. You can practice on paper and all that.” They reflected on the experience, stating that having those conversations is nice; it’s refreshing and real. As Uli noted, “It’s not the type of discussion you can have with younger kids in second or third grade”
Another notable takeaway from working with older youth: their surprising interest in learning about their cultural backgrounds. “These kids are very conscious about what it means to be Mexican, or whatever they identify as,” Uli explained. They see this engagement as an opportunity to further enrich their curriculum. For example, they organized a field trip to Chicano Park, which served as a source of inspiration for an upcoming mural project.
As they began to draft their ideas, Uli was taken aback by how passionately the students engaged with the subject of the murals. “I did a lot of research before I went, just to be able to actually speak about each mural with them,” they shared. “They were really hooked on the Mexican history of it.” This experience not only highlighted the students' interest but also underscored the significance of cultural education in their artistic endeavors.
The transformative power of creativity has a positive impact on both students and educators. Through artistic expression, students and teachers alike can discover a safe space for creativity and connection. As we continue to strengthen our partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education and the Juvenile Court and Community Schools, we are excited to witness the lasting impact our projects will have on the lives of the young people in our programs.
