YOUTH IN FOCUS BLOG
Meet Teaching Artist, Marilyn Montufar
“I just remember thinking...that feels like magic!”
Keep ReadingMeet Teaching Artist, Juan Alberto Franco Ricardo
“Art, especially photography, helped me come to terms with the complex identity problems teens confront.”
Keep ReadingA Chance to Catch Up
Virtual classes, the second session of the CCC, and Summer Camp prep. Not to mention, March was #YouthArtMonth and #Women'sHistoryMonth!
Keep ReadingMeet Teaching Artist, Isabel Dietz Hartmann
“...your teens are a special time where you...see yourself as a member of world at large. Having access to the arts helped provide a loose map to this process.”
Keep ReadingBlack History Month Inspiration Feed
Check out this rolling list of artists, musicians, and nonprofits that are currently serving as inspiration.
Keep ReadingGiving Tuesday
Our creative cohort combines photography, and graphic design, with mock interviews, portfolio development and more and is offered completely free of charge.
Keep ReadingMission in Focus Event Recap
Through your tireless efforts and generosity, we were able to raise over $43,000.00 in donations and silent auction bids! Your contributions support our mission to amplify teen voice through photography and arts education.
Keep ReadingThe Summer Launch Program
Over the summer, Youth in Focus partnered with Launch to create a bespoke set of pre-recorded photography courses for their campers in lieu of pre-COVID field trips that had since been cancelled. We worked with Isis, the ELO Director at Launch, to create this program and she wrote a few words about the experience. The included photos are from the youth enrolled in the camp.
Keep ReadingA Case of Mistaken Identity Lands Two of our TA's in a Los Angeles Public Health Leader Program
“Thank you both for coming to multiple of our sessions! It was always a treat to listen to the way you can navigate our world and public health issues with an artistic communication lens. I always felt very seen and validated when attending your sessions.”
Keep ReadingNot Another Lazy Summer
Although in-person programming came to a grinding halt in March, we didn't let COVID-19 take the strategic steering wheel away from us. By creatively and quickly shifting our programming to a virtual model—both live sessions via Zoom and pre-recorded video sessions, we served 183 youth online during this month alone.
Keep ReadingAugust Virtual Classes and More
Isabel leads our Storytelling session this month adding a strong Portfolio element for photographers who want to start creating a cohesive body of work for themselves or if they plan to do something arts-related for a career.
Keep Reading#GiveBIGWA Bonus! Samantha's high school years
This has been a thrilling run towards our Spring Quarter fundraising challenge with #GiveBIGWA! Our initial goal was $15K and you blew past that marker with your generosity earlier today, (THANK YOU!!!) prompting us to make a stretch goal of $25K.
Keep ReadingAs a southern kid growing up in Detroit...
The arts provided the only space that allowed me to feel. Those experiences shaped the person I am now, but it would take many more years for this rose to emerge from the concrete.
Keep ReadingPaint Shop Pro and an Amy Winehouse Tribute
When I was 12 years old my parents bought me a Dell desktop computer.
Keep ReadingA Personal Check-In
In this new world where many of us are working and schooling from home, I find the boundaries increasingly blurred between my professional life and my home life. So, consider this a personal check in, as I hope you and your loved ones are safely able to shelter in place.
Keep ReadingA Melted Walkman and a Brave Space
In the winter of 1995 I packed a small bag of clothes, contact solution, a walkman, tapes and my skateboard and I left home. There were multiple factors involved--much of it disputed now if you ask everyone who was there. Regardless, at 16 years old I moved into an anarchist collective in Memphis, Tennessee.
Keep ReadingThings are Weird but We Still Make Art
Nothing is quite right, it’s all a little awkward, and the highlight of the week is standing in line at the grocery store. Deep breath in… deep breath out. Things are weird.
Keep ReadingIt's Been a Rough Couple of Weeks...
Current events have challenged us, but Youth in Focus is rising to that challenge!
Keep ReadingCheck Out This Podcast
Anibal Ruiz and Samantha Kelly discuss the positive impact of arts in the community.
Keep ReadingA Virtual Spring Quarter and a Note from our ED
For 25 years, Youth in Focus has brought youth together to learn, grow, discover what’s important to them, and share their story through photography. Along the way we’ve built an extended family of support from all of you over the years, as well.
Keep Reading