Interfaith Art Program Empowers Homeless and At-Risk Youthfound

Youth Spirit Artworks is an interfaith art jobs training program that works with low–income and homeless youth ages 16 to 25–years–old. According to the Youth Spirit Artworks website, youthspiritartworks.org, the program’s mission is “to use art jobs and jobs training to empower and transform the lives of youth, giving young people the skills, experience, and self–confidence needed to meet their full potential.”

Youth Spirit Artworks was founded by Sally Hindman in 2007, co–founder of Street Spirit, a San Francisco East Bay newspaper that reports on issues largely relating to homelessness. Hindman has worked with the East Bay’s homeless community throughout her professional life, and founding Youth Spirit Artworks was a natural next step. With the help of an experienced and dedicated advisory board, Hindman was able to fulfill her dream. She successfully created an environment for “homeless and at–risk youth to create and sell art, learn job skills, and contribute to their neighborhoods through revitalization projects,” according to their website.

One example of a Youth Spirit Artworks project is a mural recently completed on January 27. The tile mural was a response to the many health problems that disproportionately affect homeless and poor residents of Berkeley and other East Bay cities. Youth Spirit Artworks’ website stated, “The mural represents our collective commitment to bridge the health disparities gap so that everyone in Berkeley can live a full life.”

The mural was a community project led by one hundred Youth Spirit Artists. More than three hundred local residents painted tiles along with the artists. Each participant pledged to do one special thing to care more deeply for his or her health, and painted that pledge on the tile. To see the mural you go can visit the Youth Spirit Artworks website, or the March unveiling.

Sally Hindman, the Executive Director of the program, said that that health-related mural is titled ‘Grow Healthy’ and “The mural unveiling is Saturday March 24 at 1 PM at 3198 Adeline Street at Fairview St. The unveiling will include speakers, food and drinks, and literature on health related issues.”

The program is currently accepting applicants for spring 2012. The training that the program provides is either on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and is held from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM on all training days.
If you are interested in volunteering, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Youth Spirit Artists needs help organizing events, making food for the artists, and much more. If you are interested you can contact the program at volunteer@youthspiritartworks.org.

As an interfaith organization, Youth Spirit Artworks is eager to get involved with religious communities. The program would be very interested in visiting or sharing with your church, mosque, temple, or any place of worship or religious celebration. If you would like Youth Spirit Artworks to visit your community, email Sarah@youthspiritartworks.org.

If you would like to donate to Youth Spirit Artworks you can mail a check to Youth Spirit Artworks, 1769 Alcatraz Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703. To view the various online methods of donating you can go to http://youthspiritartworks.org/get-involved/.

According the program’s website, Youth Spirit Artworks is “spirited and creative. Like the young people we serve, Youth Spirit Artworks is strong, resilient and evolving.”