With support from the California Arts Council, A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a place-based Community ARTS after-school program will engage over 150+ young people of color from National City and South County San Diego who consistently experience disproportionate economic, environmental, and structural racial disparities.

Community ARTS encompasses the traditional and non-traditional art practices of sound experimentation, textile arts, visual, performing, and media arts. Through our program, we reinforce our community engagement with local artists, creatives, and cultural practitioners through culturally relevant equity-based programs, services, and events that cultivate young people’s artistic voice and vision.

Our programs are free for all young people, offering accessible arts-based projects that cultivate healing, develop leadership skills, and enrich academic experiences– setting up young people on a path toward success in life, school and career.