With support from the California Arts Council, S.M.I.L.E.-ING Boys Inc will sustain and strengthen its semester-based arts and wellbeing program for underserved boys across South Los Angeles and LA County experiencing school and community disengagement. Rooted in photography, poetry, storytelling, and dialogue, the program gives boys a structured space to explore identity, belonging, emotional literacy, and healthy expressions of masculinity. Through weekly cohorts led by teaching artists and trained facilitators, participants build confidence, creative voice, peer connection, leadership, and tools for navigating conflict and self-expression. Each cohort culminates in a youth-led public showcase or exhibition, open to the broader community, that activates art in public spaces and affirms boys as artists, thinkers, and community leaders. CAC support will strengthen core capacity, deepen school and community partnerships, and expand access to transformative creative experiences.
S.M.I.L.E-ing Boys Inc. delivers creative, research-informed arts programming that supports the wellbeing, identity development, and social engagement of young people, particularly Black boys and girls aged 13–19. Our core programmes include 16-week, school-based creative arts workshop series integrating photography, poetry, and film with a happiness research framework. Participants explore themes such as identity, belonging, mental health, and gender while developing emotional literacy, self-expression, and critical thinking skills.
A key component of the programme is portraiture and visual storytelling. Participants are provided with cameras to document their lived experiences, producing original work that challenges dominant narratives and stereotypes.
The organisation produces public exhibitions and humanities-centred programming, including panel discussions, roundtables, artist talks, and wellness events, creating space for community dialogue and elevating youth voice. We also deliver educator engagement and professional development to support more inclusive, restorative school environments.
Across all activities, S.M.I.L.E-ing programmes centre arts and humanities as tools for reflection, storytelling, and cultural dialogue.