Grantee Database
Our Town. Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project
Application ID
CYD-22-19052
Application Type
Creative Youth Development
Approved Grant Amount
38000
Project Description
The goal of Our Town, Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project. is to bring community awareness and understanding to the detrimental effects that unstable environments have on children’s emotional development, while providing a creative, artistic avenue for children to freely express emotions, moods, and feelings. While the program is open to all children/youth, our primary focus is at-risk, marginalized, socioeconomically challenged children/youth who identify as Latinx, Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, i.e. people of color within the local community.
Our History
In 2004, Our Town. Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project began as a community project to serve the needs of children in a school which a large number recent immigrant families; many lived in overcrowded conditions or moved from place to place. We provided art/literature activities and community engagement opportunities for the youth. The organization grew to host art workshops for children in foster homes, shelters, schools, recreation centers, and other locations.
In 2014, we were recipients of an Oxnard Cultural Arts Grant and we hosted a children’s art walk/exhibit with over 300 entries.
We continued to organize many youth art activities in downtown Oxnard and the La Colonia neighborhood.
In 2017, thanks to the support of Oxnard Housing Resident Services Coordinator and many funders we reestablished cultural arts programming for residents in the La Colonia neighborhood and introduced an intense six-week art workshop and mural program for the youth. To date, nine mural installations have been created. Murals by the community for the community.
Over the years programming has become better organized, art lessons better developed and has garnered support from many artists, community leaders, and private funders. Our programming includes art workshops, film screenings, art exhibits, music presentations, and community gatherings. We developed professional relationships with various artists who provide their time and skill for additional programming.
Organization Summary
The goal of Our Town, Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project. is to bring community awareness and understanding to the detrimental effects that unstable environments have on children’s emotional development, while providing a creative, artistic avenue for children to freely express emotions, moods, and feelings. While the program is open to all children/youth, our primary focus is at-risk, marginalized, socioeconomically challenged children/youth who identify as Latinx, Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, i.e. people of color within the local community.
Our History
In 2004, Our Town. Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project began as a community project to serve the needs of children in a school which a large number recent immigrant families; many lived in overcrowded conditions or moved from place to place. We provided art/literature activities and community engagement opportunities for the youth. The organization grew to host art workshops for children in foster homes, shelters, schools, recreation centers, and other locations.
In 2014, we were recipients of an Oxnard Cultural Arts Grant and we hosted a children’s art walk/exhibit with over 300 entries.
We continued to organize many youth art activities in downtown Oxnard and the La Colonia neighborhood.
In 2017, thanks to the support of Oxnard Housing Resident Services Coordinator and many funders we reestablished cultural arts programming for residents in the La Colonia neighborhood and introduced an intense six-week art workshop and mural program for the youth. To date, nine mural installations have been created. Murals by the community for the community.
Over the years programming has become better organized, art lessons better developed and has garnered support from many artists, community leaders, and private funders. Our programming includes art workshops, film screenings, art exhibits, music presentations, and community gatherings. We developed professional relationships with various artists who provide their time and skill for additional programming.
Organization
Our Town. Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project
Address
646 County Square Drive, Suite 154
Ventura
Phone
