Our summer arts-based rites of passage program ended on August 17th with our culminating performance.  Thirty-two young people ages 9 to 24 participated in the six-week, free program, engaging in focused practice in an artist discipline, exploring self-identity, leadership and ideas about sisterhood and brotherhood and exploring cultural sites around the City.

Special thanks goes to our amazing teaching artists and staff:  Ben Allen, Kadeem Alston-Roman, Priscilla Amado, Angela Bell, Jerbean Gilkes, Brittany Grier, Jamyra Salley and Marienne Thomas.  And to our special guests:  Curtis John, founder of Luminal Theater, for offering your excellent coming of age film festival “Midday Ramble;”  Shawnee Benton, co-founder of SOW Leadership Development Institute, for the amazing workshop you facilitated with our young women and staff; Aurelie Harp, founder of the Womanity Project, for your insightful workshop on gender; Desmond Seymour, certified doula, for our workshop on manhood; Camille A. Brown & Dancers for piloting your program Black Men Moving with us; Dana Hanchard for the incredible tour of the Inwood Forest; and Erica Thomas Collier, founder of Billy’s Light, for your workshop on Reiki and the Chakras.  And to Danny Glover for stopping by to say hello!

Check out the photos below and in our Gallery.