Youth Non Violent Direct Action Training

Last year, we hosted our first NVDA training for student activists. This opening workshop focused on artful imagery that could strengthen youth led actions and demonstrations. A great deal of emphasis was placed on creating these images on little to no budget, so as to make the projects more accessible to students who may not have access to financial resources. Skills like stenciling, banner making, wheat pasting, and screen printing were covered with junior high and high school students. Younger students and children spent most of the afternoon with the Theater of the Oppressed, before doing some banner making of their own. It was a great event, with a great turn out, and we are grateful to everyone who helped make it possible. We would like to bring this project to life again this summer, but given last year's success, we hope to make this year even better. 

Last year, all of our supplies were scrounged from our own homes, or donated by our friends and neighbors, and all of our trainers donated their time out of love for our youth.  This year, we would like to acquire materials that would allow participants to do more hands on puppet and prop making.  We would also like to be able to send our participants home with some basic supplies that could help get them off to a running start with their own projects.  With your help, we can make that happen! Let's bring this amazing learning opportunity to as many young folks as possible!

Testimonials from last year's event:

"I thought that event was absolutely transformative for my students!  They were truly inspired by everyone they met: the presenters, as well as the other youth and adults there.  They were exposed to other young people who were passionate about changing the educational system, and transforming society from the roots up.  They were also amazed at their potential in utilizing art for its transformative potential.  They loved the t-shirt making workshop so much that they asked to make more t-shirts later in the summer for another project we were working on.  They also used examples from the conversations that we had there during our Social Justice class.  I would really love for this event to happen again this year."  - Barbara de Paula, Community Educator & Curriculum Designer at Freelancer and CIT Program

"The event was very empowering. The youth felt free and involved.  They felt the connection with the instructor Ann.  As a mother I would definitely take my children, again, to such amazing event.  Many wonderful connections between youth.  The meaning of creativity taken to a whole new level.  I remember that wonder day like it was yesterday"  - Rousemary Vega, CPS parent and organizer with BAM