With support from the California Arts Council, Light Bringer Project will be able to provide Room 13 Creative Art Studios at 4 family transitional housing shelters and 5 public school locations (outside of traditional school hours) in Los Angeles County and one community center in greater Pasadena. These studios provide culturally responsive arts-learning experiences taught by qualified community-based artists designed to help vulnerable youth fulfill their creative potential. Our Artists-in-Residence are highly diverse and reflect the communities in which the program takes place. A portion of our attendees at school sites are also foster-care residents. The unique arts learning program, now in its 5th year, anticipates serving morer than 2,500 youth in need.
The organization began as an oral history project, documenting the contributions of artists and arts supporters to the local environment, including the development of our cultural institutions and community-based organizations. Early on, Light Bringer began producing small visual, media and performing arts events at local venues. Eventually, the organization began producing larger-scale special events and, in 1997, turned its attention to youth development and public education. Current programs offered by Light Bringer Project are LocavoreLitLA, a reading promotion program; Expressing Feelings Through Art, a prevention and visual arts and literacy program; Room 13, which provides arts practice at public school sites; and College & Career Pathways, mentorship, work-based learning program. Each opportunity is designed to impart the 21st century skills of creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking, and each supports school-to-career initiatives and preparedness for post-secondary education.

