Greetings ChopArt Family!
During my stay in South Africa I never expected to find my life changed so drastically. It was an honor working with economically disadvantaged youth who looked beyond their struggle to find how they can contribute to society in spite of their circumstances. These kids have taught me a great deal about myself and the integral role each person plays in uplifting their neighbors and inspired me to bring this spirit back to my own home.
ChopArt works with homeless middle and high school aged youth because they are within a critical point of development, in periods of angst they can often be misunderstood. It is crucial that they have an outlet of expression, mentorship, and support to ensure a successful transition into adulthood. When they are in a homeless shelter their parental support is often times so emotionally drained they end up taking on the roles and burdens of being parents for themselves. In the midst of missing out on their childhood their visions of the future become marred with their current circumstance and they often fall into the realms of generational poverty. I’ve come across so many youth who were reluctant to express their visions, dreams, and aspirations because their vision only spawned as far their reality. They often wondered who even had the time to listen to their stories of hope or cared enough to expose them to greater realities. At ChopArt, we provide a space for these youth to express their visions, dreams, and aspirations. We provide these youth with an opportunity for refuge as they navigate through their circumstances. Self-expression through art is therapeutic; it’s a portal for enlightenment and an opportunity to express oneself in spite of circumstances, challenges, or socio-economic background.
It is truly a pleasure to work with these youth! They are amazing and I look forward to ChopArt’s development as we strive to touch the lives of 500 youth in the next five years.
Sincerely,
Malika Whitley
During my stay in South Africa I never expected to find my life changed so drastically. It was an honor working with economically disadvantaged youth who looked beyond their struggle to find how they can contribute to society in spite of their circumstances. These kids have taught me a great deal about myself and the integral role each person plays in uplifting their neighbors and inspired me to bring this spirit back to my own home.
ChopArt works with homeless middle and high school aged youth because they are within a critical point of development, in periods of angst they can often be misunderstood. It is crucial that they have an outlet of expression, mentorship, and support to ensure a successful transition into adulthood. When they are in a homeless shelter their parental support is often times so emotionally drained they end up taking on the roles and burdens of being parents for themselves. In the midst of missing out on their childhood their visions of the future become marred with their current circumstance and they often fall into the realms of generational poverty. I’ve come across so many youth who were reluctant to express their visions, dreams, and aspirations because their vision only spawned as far their reality. They often wondered who even had the time to listen to their stories of hope or cared enough to expose them to greater realities. At ChopArt, we provide a space for these youth to express their visions, dreams, and aspirations. We provide these youth with an opportunity for refuge as they navigate through their circumstances. Self-expression through art is therapeutic; it’s a portal for enlightenment and an opportunity to express oneself in spite of circumstances, challenges, or socio-economic background.
It is truly a pleasure to work with these youth! They are amazing and I look forward to ChopArt’s development as we strive to touch the lives of 500 youth in the next five years.
Sincerely,
Malika Whitley
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