Youth Artists 4 Equality

by Erin, 9th grade

In elementary school, the All the Arts program would come to my school to host a free weekly art class. I looked forward to those days, as I hadn’t taken an art class before but had a passion for art.

Like All the Arts, a nationwide organization called Young Artists 4 Equality (YAE) provides youth with art education, mentorship, and opportunities to learn and create art. They aim to nurture a passion for the arts in young students despite the challenges of their homes and backgrounds.
Ava Park, a visual arts student at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), was excited when she first heard about the program from Madison Lee, the high school founder of YAE, at a summer camp in New York. Ava wanted to be a part of this cause and started a chapter at OCSA with fellow student Grace Chung, as they are passionate about art and plan on careers in the field.

For their YAE events, they plan on implementing interactive activities, workshops, and performances to engage children in creativity and self-expression. Ava and Grace’s chapter in Orange County joins other high school chapters in Alabama, Colorado, and Los Angeles. They have been recognized for their impact by prestigious organizations like the Riley’s Way Foundation in New York, the Hershey Company, and Youth Service America.

The OCSA chapter is hosting a fall-themed art activity event and is calling on all local high school students – they do not have to be OCSA students – to help out at Arborland Montessori Children’s Academy, located at 2121 Hughes Dr, Fullerton, CA 92833, on Oct. 25, 2024, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

If you would like to participate or get involved with this organization, like starting your own chapter at your school, please contact:
[email protected], [email protected],
or their Instagram @oc_yae.

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