Artists for Humanity Inc.

(Boston, MA)
www.afhboston.com

Total Award: $100,000 over 1 year

Youth-Run Arts Mirco-Enterprise

To support "Youth-Run Arts Mirco-Enterprise", an initiative that helps young people help themselves by using their talents for the good of the community. Artist for Humanity's (AFH) mission is to bridge economic, racial and social divisions by providing inner-city youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts. Their mission is built on the philosophy that art is a powerful force for social change and creative entrepreneurship is a life-changing and productive opportunity for young people. "Youth-Run Arts Micro-Enterprise" is an apprenticeship/leadership program that places inner-city teens in small groups with professional urban artists/designers and young artist mentors to design, create and sell art products. AFH projects require participants to listen and respond to clients needs, and in doing so giving the teens an introduction to the professional world. AFH has received numerous requests for technical assistance from organizations that would like to replicate their model program. The immediate plan during this interim period (they are in temporary space until their new facility is completed) includes: increasing participation, expanding the business related skills in the program curriculum; reaching an additional 300 youth through drop-in programs, increasing earned revenues by 50% in 2004; and documenting existing process so that they can be shared with other institutions.