Apex for Youth’s Post

At the General Assembly for African Artistry and Innovation, our organization is dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through a unique blend of artistry, innovation, and sustainable development initiatives. At the core of our mission are four key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). 1. Quality Education (SDG 4): We empower marginalized communities by providing access to quality education and skill development programs that foster creativity, innovation, and lifelong learning. Through artistry and innovation, we aim to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools to succeed in diverse fields and contribute to sustainable development. 2. Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): We support marginalized communities in accessing employment opportunities, entrepreneurship training, and economic empowerment initiatives. By promoting inclusive economic growth and decent work for all, we strive to reduce inequalities and create pathways to financial independence and stability. 3. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9): Our organization champions innovation, creativity, and sustainable infrastructure development within marginalized communities. Through artistry and innovative solutions, we aim to drive economic growth, enhance technological capabilities, and promote sustainable industrialization in alignment with SDG 9. 4. Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): We recognize the importance of collaboration, partnerships, and collective action in achieving sustainable development objectives. By fostering partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including artists, innovators, policymakers, and community leaders, we work towards creating a shared vision for empowerment, inclusivity, and social impact. Through our commitment to these four core SDGs, we strive to empower marginalized communities in Africa through artistry, innovation, education, economic growth, and sustainable partnerships. Our organization is dedicated to creating a platform where creativity, empowerment, and sustainable development intersect to drive positive change and foster a more inclusive and equitable society.

We are living during a time when there are many conflicting messages. For some young people, maintaining a clear mind and staying focused is very difficult due to the many distractions all around them. If you’re in the DMV area and have teenagers who need a reboot, a platform to discuss topics important to them, or just want to be around positive, uplifting youth, register for our Youth Symposium! It’s time for us to raise the vibrations of our youth!! What they listen to matters! How they engage with technology matters! How they view themselves matter!!! Click the Eventbrite link to learn more about the workshops and the facilitators!! We are changing the narrative by empowering our youth to think critically about how their interact with American popular culture.

"And to artists: continue to be as brave and challenging and uncompromising as you have always been. Stand by your choices, stand by your art, and know that we will stand by you." Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, has written a compelling piece for The Guardian, highlighting the opportunity for a cultural reboot in Britain. With the current political shift, there's a unique chance to weave creativity and culture into our everyday lives. Serota’s five-point plan includes boosting early childhood art education, ensuring every schoolchild has access to the arts, revitalising communities through cultural projects, promoting global artistic exchanges, and safeguarding artistic freedom. By focusing on these areas, we can drive economic growth, foster social change, and enrich our society. Is now the right time to champion the arts and unlock their full potential for everyone?

Teens in Montana are reimagining their relationship with public spaces – and their communities are benefitting as a result. Last week at the National Humanities Conference in Providence, I learned about a wonderful project where young people restored a local park, incorporating native grasses and deepening connections to their Dakota/Nakota heritage. This is just one example from the nonpartisan Democracy Project, an initiative supported by Humanities Montana. In libraries across the state teens develop, research, iterate, and execute projects to improve their communities. Librarians such as Alia Hanson and Lori Smoker, who both shared stories during the session of what "their" kids have achieved, receive training and support from folks like Jenny Bevill and John Knight from Humanities Montana. Their presentation was full of joy and respect for teens and their energy, drive, perseverance, and collaboration. There are two elements of this initiative that I find most important: first, teens are given complete agency to decide on their project. The librarians help and support but do not direct the projects; and second, the networking and collaboration among librarians with support from Montana Humanities has enabled the program to spread to all four corners of the state. These are not hugely expensive programs to design or run, yet they have enormous impact on the teens involved as well as the communities who benefit from the teens' work. it seems like a no-brainer: every state should be doing this! There was one question mark. Where are the boys? Most of the teens who sign up for the projects are girls. The gender imbalance in civic engagement programs like this one reflects a broader, national pattern of civic disengagement among young men. While teens in The Democracy Project have complete freedom to design their own initiatives--from park restoration to technology solutions-- the challenge lies in getting more young men through the library doors in the first place. Meeting them where they already gather might help. I’m thinking, for instance, that  sports coaches or local veterans might be more effective at recruiting boys than a library flyer alone. Boys might also be swayed if they learn that the program could have practical benefits for themselves, not just their communities, such as that it could help them land a job or improve their college applications.  What other ideas do people have for engaging teen boys in civic life? National Humanities Alliance Federation of State Humanities Councils Rhode Island Council for the Humanities  #studentagency #democracy #pbl #projectbasedlearning

I really love how the tangible and intangible impacts of art on society is be quantified.

This International Human Rights Day, we’d like to remind everyone that children’s rights are human rights. 🌍 Children make up nearly one-third of the world’s population, yet their rights are too often overlooked. 📜 Enshrined in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), children’s rights include: ✔️ The right to equality, education, and healthcare ✔️ The right to safety and protection from harm ✔️ The right to express their opinions and beliefs These rights belong to ALL children, no matter their race, religion, birth status, language, or ability. In today’s digital world, UN General Comment 25 ensures these rights extend online, empowering children to safely explore and express themselves in digital spaces. At the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, we will continue to champion and strengthen the rights of children and young people to live free from violence and trauma wherever they live, learn and play.

Apply by March 29. Building the Bigger We. Race Forward and Americans for the Arts are seeking proposals from local organizations* for funding to participate in the first annual Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy (CWA) this September 27 to October 5, 2024. They anticipate funding 12 to 15 sites; participation in the CWA will also be encouraged and open to organizations not requesting funding. This is an opportunity to deepen commitments to racial justice and inclusive democracy through cultural activities. Co-creation is encouraged and you don’t have to have every detail finalized in order to apply. They will sponsor select projects that encourage deep, bold, and long-term change. Through a competitive process, 12-15 local communities that represent the diversity of our country will receive $25,000-$40,000 for cultural organizers and community partners to design and implement projects that align with the theme of Building the Bigger We. Let’s go Minnesota! #innovation #leadership #racialandhealthequity #wellbeing #artsinhealth #arts cc: City of Saint Paul, Hamline University, Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity, Springboard for the Arts, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Anika Ward and ARTS-Us. https://lnkd.in/gq_idqPC

Keith Martin-Smith: "...So, we have safe zones on campuses which is—you know, I mean to any traditional liberal that was raised in a rigorous academic environment, having a safe space on a university... A safe space from ideas, I mean, obviously, there should be a safe space from physical violence. That's a given! But, a safe space from ideas that I might find threatening... I mean, I can't think of anything less liberal." ---- 🎧 Listen to the FULL audio only interviews with Keith Martin-Smith: Part 1: https://lnkd.in/giSNpVRu Part 2: https://lnkd.in/gawYYM8Z Part 3: https://lnkd.in/gincU2x3 Visit the episode page for a summary, timestamps, and links to resources mentioned. ---- ❤️ Our podcast is a labor of love funded solely by co-hosts Roger and John. If you enjoyed this episode, please help us keep these meaningful conversations alive by supporting us through: https://lnkd.in/gy4qryHr ---- Trailer Transcript: The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) very famously went to court to advocate that a Holocaust denier could deny the Holocaust. That's something the ACLU would never do today. Ever. Part of the anti-liberalism has come from this collapse around believing that people's feelings and their sense of marginalization and protecting those things are more important than free speech. So, we have safe zones on campuses which is—you know, I mean to any traditional liberal that was raised in a rigorous academic environment, having a safe space on a university... A safe space from ideas, I mean, obviously, there should be a safe space from physical violence. That's a given! But, a safe space from ideas that I might find threatening... I mean, I can't think of anything less liberal. #KeithMartinSmith #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #DEI #Equality

https://lnkd.in/e4UaHeUt ❓ Wellness and the arts is a hot topic in recent years with many definitions thrown all about. So, what exactly is wellness? What is art? And how do they connect? 📈There is no set definition for wellness. It can mean anything from a balance between one’s resource pool and challenges faced to how individuals and the community experience their physical, psychological, and social lives. The arts are similar in a way since it can be almost anything that allows people to use their creativity. This includes performing arts, visual arts, design, crafts, organizing festivals, literature, and so much more. Many studies have been conducted to dig deeper into how art programs affect the wellness of individuals and the community. One large scale scope review in 2021 looked at countless studies about wellness and the arts (Pesata et al., 2021). Many of their findings saw positive impacts on social, emotional, and physical functioning between individuals and communities. 🪡At Arts in Reach, we strive to improve the wellness of our teens and the community through the arts. Throughout the years, we have run a variety of different art programs from theater to drawing, to fiber arts. No matter the medium, our teens come out more confident and prepared to participate in the community. “Thank you for helping me figure out who I am and helping me bring out my creativity.”- AIR teen #Wellbeing #Nonprofit #Arts #Youth #CommunityImpact #YouthDevelopment 

🌍 Uniting Creativity for a Cause: The Social Canvas 🎨 At The Social Canvas (TSC), we believe that art is not just a form of expression but a powerful catalyst for change. Our mission is to unite artists from all walks of life to collaborate on projects that champion cultural and environmental causes. ✨ Why We Do It: In a world filled with challenges, art has the unique ability to inspire, educate, and bring people together. Through creativity, we can address pressing issues, advocate for positive change, and foster a vibrant community. 🤝 What’s Happening at TSC: Collaborative Projects: Artists are coming together to create works that resonate and raise awareness about important issues. Community Engagement: We are hosting events that connect artists with local communities, creating opportunities for dialogue and interaction. Empowerment Initiatives: Our programs focus on empowering underrepresented artists, providing them with resources and platforms to showcase their talent. 🌟 Join Us: If you’re an artist, a supporter of the arts, or someone passionate about making a difference, we invite you to connect with us! Together, let’s harness the power of creativity to inspire change and build a brighter future. 🔗https://lnkd.in/g_ujpUtx #TheSocialCanvas #ArtForChange #Creativity #Community #CulturalInitiatives #EnvironmentalAwareness