Healing & Empowering Youth Through Arts Education

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Los Angeles is home to the biggest jail system in the world, with an average daily population of about 15,000 and costing around $1.5 billion annually. Of the nearly 1,500 women in LA jails, roughly 80% are mothers. Too often, their children end up in the foster care system and, eventually, many also become involved in the criminal legal system. Collectively, these systems have a profound impact on youth, often perpetuating cycles of disadvantage and marginalization. Many in foster care experience instability and lack of consistent support, leading to educational disruptions and emotional trauma. Additionally, interactions with the criminal justice system can further complicate their lives, as involvement often results in stigmatization, reduced access to employment, and an increased likelihood of rearrest. Together, these systems can create significant barriers to success, requiring comprehensive reforms and targeted interventions to better support the youth of Los Angeles.

Since 2023, PPP has partnered with New Village Girls Academy, a nearby high school that provides a high-quality education to girls not successfully served in traditional public schools. At PPP’s studio, systems-impacted teen moms are exposed to the arts and encouraged to consider employment in the field. Each semester 16 young women experience an internship at PPP. They are compensated for their time through a partnership with nearby St. Ann’s Hospital. PPP donates our studio space. New Village pays for the instructor’s time. The students receive high school credit and renumeration – as well as the possibility of using their PPP internship towards college credit. This experience has been overwhelmingly positive for both PPP staff and students. As a result, we have decided to explore expansion in this area as evidenced by our recently revised mission statement, which adds “systems-impacted youth” as an additional target population for PPP. With the generous support of LA2050, we will build on our recent experience to develop an after-school program in our non-profit ceramics art studio designed specifically for systems-impacted youth. The program will focus on exposing systems-impacted youth to paid internships in the arts, providing mentorship from systems-survivor adults, and modeling healthy interpersonal skills and coping strategies – while preparing for future employment, whether in the creative arts or other industries.

Los Angeles could see significant positive changes. The program would provide a stable and supportive environment for vulnerable young people, offering them valuable skills and mentorship. By engaging the youth in paid internships and equipping them with interpersonal skills and coping strategies, the project could reduce the likelihood of their involvement in the criminal justice system and improve their educational outcomes. The mentorship from systems-survivor adults would offer relatable role models and foster resilience, helping participants envision and work towards a brighter future. As a result, Los Angeles could experience a decrease in youth arrests, an increase in high school graduation rates, and a more skilled and emotionally resilient workforce. This, in turn, could contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive community, where young people have the tools and support they need to thrive in various industries, including the creative arts.

To measure the impact of the project and gather evidence that it addresses the problem of supporting systems-impacted youth, we employ a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods:
Participant Tracking
Pre- and Post-Program Surveys
Academic and Employment Outcomes
Mentor Feedback
Focus Groups and Interviews
Evidence of Effectiveness:
Improved Self-Esteem and Coping Skills
Educational Advancements
Employment and Internship Success
Positive Mentor Relationships
By continuously collecting and analyzing this data, we can ensure that the People’s Pottery Project effectively addresses the challenges faced by systems-impacted youth and makes a meaningful difference in their lives.