A S 2 2 0 Y O U T H P R O G R A MA S 2 2 0 Y O U T H P R O G R A M

AS220 Youth

This is AS220 Youth’s commitment to respecting and embracing all people.

MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT AS220 YOUTH SERVES have faced incredible challenges in their young lives. Many come from impoverished

neighborhoods, some have failed in school, others are in the care or custody of the

state. But standing firmly on their side is AS220 Youth, an organization that believes

in the arts and strong relationships to change the course of young peoples’ lives.

Through this 14-year-old program,

teaching artists offer instruction in a

variety of mediums while fostering positive

relationships with adult role models.

The arts are “a way of connecting with

very, very disconnected, hard-to-engage

youth in a way that doesn’t feel like a

program with adults telling them what

to do,” Program Director Anne Kugler

has said.

About one third of the young people

that AS220 Youth serves each year are

incarcerated at the Rhode Island Training

School (RITS). In 2012, 160 adolescents

participated in AS220 groups at the RITS

in art, music, writing, photo, and computer

design. Artwork made by Training School

residents has been included in gallery

shows and has been presented at juvenile

justice conferences around the nation.

The goal of AS220’s work at the training

School is two-fold. Program staff work to

expose young people to art-making and

the creative process. The second objective

is to build supportive, trusting relationships

with youth that pave the way for long

term engagement, and encourage youth

to engage at the downtown studio

after release.

The studio’s two dozen free classes

a week are also open to other young

people from the community, including

those in foster care and group homes.

This location is a vibrant hub of activity

where youth are busy designing video

games, developing dance moves,

recording songs and making beats.

Classes are also offered at the Urban

Collaborative Accelerated Program

(UCAP) for middle school students who

have repeated a grade. Here, the arts

help students catch up to their grade

level, reducing drop-out risk.

Targeted to the interests of the young

people they serve, AS220 classes first

capture participants’ attention and then

go on to reinforce collaboration, hard

work and accountability. This instruction is

the foundation which allows participants

to move forward into challenging

vocational and educational endeavors.

AS220 Youth

01

AS220 is a safe place where no person or group

should be discriminated against for any reason

no matter what they bring with them through

our doors-this includes varying races, religions,

gender identities, and perspectives.

All will be treated in a positive manner.

Every member of this community is committed

to being respectful of our diversity in our words

and actions while engaging in open dialog about

these issues. We recognize that we all harbor

prejudices, but we are dedicated to challenging

ourselves against them.

We will not stand for bigotry or oppression.

We stand for embracing, celebrating, and educating.

F

AS220 Youth

This is AS220 Youth’s commitment to respecting and embracing all people.

MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT AS220 YOUTH SERVES have faced incredible challenges in their young lives. Many come from impoverished

neighborhoods, some have failed in school, others are in the care or custody of the

state. But standing firmly on their side is AS220 Youth, an organization that believes

in the arts and strong relationships to change the course of young peoples’ lives.

Through this 14-year-old program,

teaching artists offer instruction in a

variety of mediums while fostering positive

relationships with adult role models.

The arts are “a way of connecting with

very, very disconnected, hard-to-engage

youth in a way that doesn’t feel like a

program with adults telling them what

to do,” Program Director Anne Kugler

has said.

About one third of the young people

that AS220 Youth serves each year are

incarcerated at the Rhode Island Training

School (RITS). In 2012, 160 adolescents

participated in AS220 groups at the RITS

in art, music, writing, photo, and computer

design. Artwork made by Training School

residents has been included in gallery

shows and has been presented at juvenile

justice conferences around the nation.

The goal of AS220’s work at the training

School is two-fold. Program staff work to

expose young people to art-making and

the creative process. The second objective

is to build supportive, trusting relationships

with youth that pave the way for long

term engagement, and encourage youth

to engage at the downtown studio

after release.

The studio’s two dozen free classes

a week are also open to other young

people from the community, including

those in foster care and group homes.

This location is a vibrant hub of activity

where youth are busy designing video

games, developing dance moves,

recording songs and making beats.

Classes are also offered at the Urban

Collaborative Accelerated Program

(UCAP) for middle school students who

have repeated a grade. Here, the arts

help students catch up to their grade

level, reducing drop-out risk.

Targeted to the interests of the young

people they serve, AS220 classes first

capture participants’ attention and then

go on to reinforce collaboration, hard

work and accountability. This instruction is

the foundation which allows participants

to move forward into challenging

vocational and educational endeavors.

AS220 Youth

01

AS220 is a safe place where no person or group

should be discriminated against for any reason

no matter what they bring with them through

our doors-this includes varying races, religions,

gender identities, and perspectives.

All will be treated in a positive manner.

Every member of this community is committed

to being respectful of our diversity in our words

and actions while engaging in open dialog about

these issues. We recognize that we all harbor

prejudices, but we are dedicated to challenging

ourselves against them.

We will not stand for bigotry or oppression.

We stand for embracing, celebrating, and educating.

F

2012 NATIONAL ARTS AND

HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM

AWARD RECIPIENT

Anne Kugler and Justin Espinal together and with Michelle Obama

2012 NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM AWARD RECIPIENT

Chosen from a pool of more than 350 nominations and 50 finalists, AS220

was one of 12 after-school and out-of-school programs across the country

to receive the award, which is the highest honor such programs can receive

in the United States.

AS220 Youth staff brought 10 additional

youth to Washington to share in this

extraordinary accomplishment, spending

three days visiting museums, monuments

and local after-school art programs. Upon

their return, Providence Mayor Angel

Taveras hosted a program and reception

at City Hall to acknowledge and honor

the dedication of AS220 Youth staff and

participants alike. AS220 leaders, board

members and young people celebrated

with city and state partners, reveling in

the honor while also looking forward to

the significant work to come.

The awards are administered by the

President’s Committee on the Arts and

the Humanities (PCAH), in partnership

with the National Endowment for the Arts

(NEA), the National Endowment for the

Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of

Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Awarded in a November 19th White

House ceremony hosted by First Lady

Michelle Obama, youth participant Justin

Espinal and Youth Director Anne Kugler

accepted the award on behalf of AS220.

The pool of awardees was recognized

by Mrs. Obama for using engagement in

the arts and the humanities to increase

academic achievement, graduation

rates, and college enrollment, as well as

improve literacy and language abilities,

communication and performance skills,

and cultural awareness.

“ In spite of all the challenges and obstacles

our young people face, in spite of all their fears and doubts,

you teach them to make art anyway,” said Mrs. Obama

addressing the AS220 Youth and the other 11 awardees.

“ You teach them that no matter what life throws their way,

if they draw on their own talent, creativity and courage…

if they’re persistent and tenacious and bold…then they can

truly make something extraordinary out of their lives.”

ZZ ZZ Z

Youth at the Rhode Island Training School

#During the 2011-2012 operating year, AS220 engaged in over 23,900 contact hours with the State’s most “disconnected” youth.

#74% of regular attendees (coming 30 or more times in a year) have an online portfolio that includes creative work, an artist statement, and a resume.

#Just over half of adjudicated youth at the RI Training School voluntarily chose to participate in AS220 Youth groups at the facility. Of these, 62 transitioned to AS220 after release during the 2011-2012 operating year.

#93% completed high school or their GED, compared to the State average of 77% and Providence’s 4 year graduation rate of 66%.

#Of the youth who participate in the summer employment program, 100% show an increase in job readiness skills.

FactsAS220 Youth

Facts AS220 Youth

#In the last year, AS220 Youth served 590 youth at three teaching sites.

AS220 Youth is the longest running arts education program for incarcerated youth in the country.

0302

2012 NATIONAL ARTS AND

HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM

AWARD RECIPIENT

Anne Kugler and Justin Espinal together and with Michelle Obama

2012 NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM AWARD RECIPIENT

Chosen from a pool of more than 350 nominations and 50 finalists, AS220

was one of 12 after-school and out-of-school programs across the country

to receive the award, which is the highest honor such programs can receive

in the United States.

AS220 Youth staff brought 10 additional

youth to Washington to share in this

extraordinary accomplishment, spending

three days visiting museums, monuments

and local after-school art programs. Upon

their return, Providence Mayor Angel

Taveras hosted a program and reception

at City Hall to acknowledge and honor

the dedication of AS220 Youth staff and

participants alike. AS220 leaders, board

members and young people celebrated

with city and state partners, reveling in

the honor while also looking forward to

the significant work to come.

The awards are administered by the

President’s Committee on the Arts and

the Humanities (PCAH), in partnership

with the National Endowment for the Arts

(NEA), the National Endowment for the

Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of

Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Awarded in a November 19th White

House ceremony hosted by First Lady

Michelle Obama, youth participant Justin

Espinal and Youth Director Anne Kugler

accepted the award on behalf of AS220.

The pool of awardees was recognized

by Mrs. Obama for using engagement in

the arts and the humanities to increase

academic achievement, graduation

rates, and college enrollment, as well as

improve literacy and language abilities,

communication and performance skills,

and cultural awareness.

“ In spite of all the challenges and obstacles

our young people face, in spite of all their fears and doubts,

you teach them to make art anyway,” said Mrs. Obama

addressing the AS220 Youth and the other 11 awardees.

“ You teach them that no matter what life throws their way,

if they draw on their own talent, creativity and courage…

if they’re persistent and tenacious and bold…then they can

truly make something extraordinary out of their lives.”

ZZ ZZ Z

Youth at the Rhode Island Training School

#During the 2011-2012 operating year, AS220 engaged in over 23,900 contact hours with the State’s most “disconnected” youth.

#74% of regular attendees (coming 30 or more times in a year) have an online portfolio that includes creative work, an artist statement, and a resume.

#Just over half of adjudicated youth at the RI Training School voluntarily chose to participate in AS220 Youth groups at the facility. Of these, 62 transitioned to AS220 after release during the 2011-2012 operating year.

#93% completed high school or their GED, compared to the State average of 77% and Providence’s 4 year graduation rate of 66%.

#Of the youth who participate in the summer employment program, 100% show an increase in job readiness skills.

FactsAS220 Youth

Facts AS220 Youth

#In the last year, AS220 Youth served 590 youth at three teaching sites.

AS220 Youth is the longest running arts education program for incarcerated youth in the country.

0302

FaQs AS220 Youth

UMBERTO CRENCA AND OTHERS FOUNDED AS220 IN 1985

with an unjuried, uncensored mission which supported

freedom of expression and community development. In 1998,

with support from the The Wallace Foundation, AS220

embarked on a campaign to triple the percentage of youth

among its audiences and performers. Working first with local

public schools, AS220 eventually concentrated it’s attention on

the Rhode Island Training School, the state juvenile detention

facility. Before long Crenca and colleagues were spending

every Friday afternoon inside the training school, and, with

invaluable support from the Rhode Island Department of

Children, Youth and Families, were teaching classes in writing,

hip hop, Afro-Cuban drumming and photography. AS220

now serves over 600 youth per year in a variety of mediums

and artistic disciplines at three locations.

AS220 YOUTH’S PRIMARY MISSION is to engage participants

in the creative process; the art is where the effort begins, but

staff also work tirelessly to link youth with further educational

and vocational opportunities through internships and paid

employment. Since 2009, AS220 Youth has offered summer

employment to 30-45 teens annually with funding from the

Governor’s Workforce Board and Workforce Solutions of

Providence/Cranston. Youth employees are split into creative

teams to collaborate on major projects that benefit the

community. In 2011, the Performance Program assembled a

team of Liberian teens to write and record an album about

the refugee experience, while another group painted a

mural for the Providence Recreation Department.

AS220 Youth also provides young people exiting the Training

School with transitional employment positions (TE’s) at the

AS220 restaurant, FooD. These youth work for 6-9 months

as dishwashers and prep cooks, then get support finding

permanent jobs in the community. Many youth exiting the

RI Training School also participate in an internship program

at the studio and spend 10 hours a week engaged in a

combination of skill building and service learning projects.

AS220 also provides internships for students from community

schools such as The Met, Juanita Sanchez, and ACE Academy.

AS220 YOUTH IS COMMITTED to maintaining relationships

with participants through a variety of means and believes

that with additional time spent with staff, peers and members

of the artistic community, participant investment will grow.

Part of this effort, AS220 Youth’s mentoring program matches

adult members from the community with teens incarcerated

at the Rhode Island Training School. The goal is to establish

positive relationships during incarceration that will continue

after the youth returns to the community. Mentors expose

youth participants to many new things, often exploring career

possibilities and recreational opportunities. AS220 Youth also

offers group mentoring, which includes a basketball team,

homework help, a cooking group and G’s to Gents, a young

men’s group.

AS220 YOUTH IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM, as it is a private

venture supported by partnership with the public entities most

directly involved with adjudicated youth, their rehabilitation

and the provision of essential social services: the Department

of Education, The Department of Labor, the Department of

Children, Youth and Families and the Rhode Island Training

School. AS220 Youth is able to compensate for the inevitable

limitations of the public agencies, filling a much-needed gap

in participants’ exposure to art, design and technology. After

more than 14 years together, AS220 has indelible ties to the

Rhode Island Training School, and that relationship is sustained

on the health of daily interactions with RITS staff and expanded

involvement with RITS educational programming.

In 2006, AS220 Youth began to secure Workforce funding from

the RI Department of Labor to employ youth and provide job

skills training. To date, AS220 Youth has created part-time

and summer employment for more than 450 young people.

HISTORY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS EMPLOYMENT

FaQs AS220 Youth

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

05

“”

I am continually blown away by the life changing opportunities AS220 provides for the city’s most disadvantaged, disenfranchised and frankly, cast off young people. LYNNE MCCORMACK

DIRECTOR, City of Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism

04

FaQs AS220 Youth

UMBERTO CRENCA AND OTHERS FOUNDED AS220 IN 1985

with an unjuried, uncensored mission which supported

freedom of expression and community development. In 1998,

with support from the The Wallace Foundation, AS220

embarked on a campaign to triple the percentage of youth

among its audiences and performers. Working first with local

public schools, AS220 eventually concentrated it’s attention on

the Rhode Island Training School, the state juvenile detention

facility. Before long Crenca and colleagues were spending

every Friday afternoon inside the training school, and, with

invaluable support from the Rhode Island Department of

Children, Youth and Families, were teaching classes in writing,

hip hop, Afro-Cuban drumming and photography. AS220

now serves over 600 youth per year in a variety of mediums

and artistic disciplines at three locations.

AS220 YOUTH’S PRIMARY MISSION is to engage participants

in the creative process; the art is where the effort begins, but

staff also work tirelessly to link youth with further educational

and vocational opportunities through internships and paid

employment. Since 2009, AS220 Youth has offered summer

employment to 30-45 teens annually with funding from the

Governor’s Workforce Board and Workforce Solutions of

Providence/Cranston. Youth employees are split into creative

teams to collaborate on major projects that benefit the

community. In 2011, the Performance Program assembled a

team of Liberian teens to write and record an album about

the refugee experience, while another group painted a

mural for the Providence Recreation Department.

AS220 Youth also provides young people exiting the Training

School with transitional employment positions (TE’s) at the

AS220 restaurant, FooD. These youth work for 6-9 months

as dishwashers and prep cooks, then get support finding

permanent jobs in the community. Many youth exiting the

RI Training School also participate in an internship program

at the studio and spend 10 hours a week engaged in a

combination of skill building and service learning projects.

AS220 also provides internships for students from community

schools such as The Met, Juanita Sanchez, and ACE Academy.

AS220 YOUTH IS COMMITTED to maintaining relationships

with participants through a variety of means and believes

that with additional time spent with staff, peers and members

of the artistic community, participant investment will grow.

Part of this effort, AS220 Youth’s mentoring program matches

adult members from the community with teens incarcerated

at the Rhode Island Training School. The goal is to establish

positive relationships during incarceration that will continue

after the youth returns to the community. Mentors expose

youth participants to many new things, often exploring career

possibilities and recreational opportunities. AS220 Youth also

offers group mentoring, which includes a basketball team,

homework help, a cooking group and G’s to Gents, a young

men’s group.

AS220 YOUTH IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM, as it is a private

venture supported by partnership with the public entities most

directly involved with adjudicated youth, their rehabilitation

and the provision of essential social services: the Department

of Education, The Department of Labor, the Department of

Children, Youth and Families and the Rhode Island Training

School. AS220 Youth is able to compensate for the inevitable

limitations of the public agencies, filling a much-needed gap

in participants’ exposure to art, design and technology. After

more than 14 years together, AS220 has indelible ties to the

Rhode Island Training School, and that relationship is sustained

on the health of daily interactions with RITS staff and expanded

involvement with RITS educational programming.

In 2006, AS220 Youth began to secure Workforce funding from

the RI Department of Labor to employ youth and provide job

skills training. To date, AS220 Youth has created part-time

and summer employment for more than 450 young people.

HISTORY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS EMPLOYMENT

FaQs AS220 Youth

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

05

“”

I am continually blown away by the life changing opportunities AS220 provides for the city’s most disadvantaged, disenfranchised and frankly, cast off young people. LYNNE MCCORMACK

DIRECTOR, City of Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism

04

photographyphotography

FILM

DIGITALO

AS220 Youth’s Photography program offers technical training in film and digital

photography. Students learn how to take pictures and how to process their

images in the darkroom or with software such as Photoshop.

Photo students sign out cameras and take them home, where they begin to

capture aspects of their own lives in images, and tell viewers about their world.

Through classes and personal projects, youth build portfolios that can be used

to obtain further opportunities in photography. For some, this might mean art

school; for others, it can mean work as a professional photographer.

AS220, RIPTA, AND NAIL COMMUNICATIONS

came together to produce “MOVING”–

a fully functioning RIPTA bus that has served

as a mobile art gallery. Wrapped inside and

out with black and white photographs taken

by AS220 Youth program participants, the

bus features images of Rhode Islanders who

use Kennedy Plaza. The project was part of

FirstWorks Festival: On the Plaza in 2012.

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE AS220 YOUTH

photography program, has engaged summer

employment participants in the Kennedy

Plaza Portrait Project. The goal is to capture

a cross section of Rhode Island citizens

through black & white portraiture and

recorded interviews of a small cross section

of the tens of thousands of people who

use Kennedy Plaza every day.

The project also gives AS220 youth the

opportunity to enhance their social skills,

approaching people, communicating to

them about the project, interviewing them,

their photography skills, taking a good

photo, developing it, and design skills,

hands-on experience working with Nail

Communications on designing the bus.

“ MOVING” AND

THE KENNEDY

PLAZA PORTRAIT

PROJECT

“Moving” AS220 Youth staff and participants at right, and above with Mayor Angel Taveras

M

JUSTIN ESPINAL

Justin began with AS220 Youth as a middle

school student at Urban Collaborative

Accelerated Program, a second chance

school for those who are in serious risk of

dropping out. Justin excelled at the studio

and soon began to study digital and black

& white photography with the photo

instructors. Justin is now 16 years old and

has been involved with the studio for more

than three years, spending an average

of 5 hours per week at the studio. He

has participated in two years of AS220

Youth summer employment, has assisted on

countless commercial photography projects

and participated in multiple group shows.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I first got interested in art when I was ten

months old. My Mother tells me I picked up

a crayon and drew on the wall. Today I take

photo at AS220. I draw pictures of super

heroes and take pictures of people

that are very dear to me. The materials that

I use are pencil, pen and a film or digital

camera. My creative process is the inspiration

I get from the people that are around me.

The people that I care about give me ideas

and themes through their actions. Sometimes

even the stuff that comes out of their mouth

is an inspiration to keep me going with my

art. A major project that i am working on

right now is the Kennedy Plaza Portrait

Project. We go up to random strangers and

ask them their permission to interview and

photograph them. In doing this we work to

create a group of photographs capturing the

diversity of people here in Rhode Island.

0706

ph

oto

by

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E. P

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ho

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r, L

LC

photographyphotography

FILM

DIGITALO

AS220 Youth’s Photography program offers technical training in film and digital

photography. Students learn how to take pictures and how to process their

images in the darkroom or with software such as Photoshop.

Photo students sign out cameras and take them home, where they begin to

capture aspects of their own lives in images, and tell viewers about their world.

Through classes and personal projects, youth build portfolios that can be used

to obtain further opportunities in photography. For some, this might mean art

school; for others, it can mean work as a professional photographer.

AS220, RIPTA, AND NAIL COMMUNICATIONS

came together to produce “MOVING”–

a fully functioning RIPTA bus that has served

as a mobile art gallery. Wrapped inside and

out with black and white photographs taken

by AS220 Youth program participants, the

bus features images of Rhode Islanders who

use Kennedy Plaza. The project was part of

FirstWorks Festival: On the Plaza in 2012.

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE AS220 YOUTH

photography program, has engaged summer

employment participants in the Kennedy

Plaza Portrait Project. The goal is to capture

a cross section of Rhode Island citizens

through black & white portraiture and

recorded interviews of a small cross section

of the tens of thousands of people who

use Kennedy Plaza every day.

The project also gives AS220 youth the

opportunity to enhance their social skills,

approaching people, communicating to

them about the project, interviewing them,

their photography skills, taking a good

photo, developing it, and design skills,

hands-on experience working with Nail

Communications on designing the bus.

“ MOVING” AND

THE KENNEDY

PLAZA PORTRAIT

PROJECT

“Moving” AS220 Youth staff and participants at right, and above with Mayor Angel Taveras

M

JUSTIN ESPINAL

Justin began with AS220 Youth as a middle

school student at Urban Collaborative

Accelerated Program, a second chance

school for those who are in serious risk of

dropping out. Justin excelled at the studio

and soon began to study digital and black

& white photography with the photo

instructors. Justin is now 16 years old and

has been involved with the studio for more

than three years, spending an average

of 5 hours per week at the studio. He

has participated in two years of AS220

Youth summer employment, has assisted on

countless commercial photography projects

and participated in multiple group shows.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I first got interested in art when I was ten

months old. My Mother tells me I picked up

a crayon and drew on the wall. Today I take

photo at AS220. I draw pictures of super

heroes and take pictures of people

that are very dear to me. The materials that

I use are pencil, pen and a film or digital

camera. My creative process is the inspiration

I get from the people that are around me.

The people that I care about give me ideas

and themes through their actions. Sometimes

even the stuff that comes out of their mouth

is an inspiration to keep me going with my

art. A major project that i am working on

right now is the Kennedy Plaza Portrait

Project. We go up to random strangers and

ask them their permission to interview and

photograph them. In doing this we work to

create a group of photographs capturing the

diversity of people here in Rhode Island.

0706

ph

oto

by

Ste

ven

E. P

urc

ell,

P

ho

tog

rap

he

r, L

LC

visualArtsvisualArts

OPAINTING

DRAWING

PRINTMAKING

The Visuals Program offers instruction

in a variety of artistic media. AS220 Youth

provides an environment for young people to

explore various art-making techniques and

enhance their independent creative thinking.

Through weekly classes students learn basic

skills in drawing, painting, screen printing,

mixed media, and stop motion animation.

Students are encouraged to explore their

own creative styles through independent

projects and build personal portfolios. Aside

from gaining technical skills, young people

are taught how to communicate about their

artwork and the artwork of others through

regular individual and group critiques.

Visiting artists often come to the studio

to provide lectures and critiques.

SELF PORTRAITS

To increase students’ confidence in drawing

the human face, program staff take a

participant’s photograph and stylize it in

Photoshop. The young person then works

from this image, which helps to decrease

the focus on lines and increase their

attention to shapes and forms.

SAM ’S DRAWINGS

Sam has been attending AS220 since 2009,

participating in the school-year and summer

employment programs. He draws expressive

characters that speak to the complexities

of his life: some of the faces are hopeful and

radiant, while others shed tears and yell out

in anger as the bap-bap-bap of handguns

echo in the background.

Sam’s drawings have been featured on

t-shirts, posters and stickers. He’ s been a

featured artist in the AS220 Youth magazine,

The Hidden Truth. During the summers,

Sam has also been part of a mural team,

creating large-scale pieces for clients in

the community.

SAM MAKOR

17 years old

Sam has been an AS220 Youth member

since 2009 when he began to develop

his unique drawing style in the Visuals

department. Sam’s crazy, fun creatures have

become well-known throughout the studio

and have even been featured on a series

of studio t-shirts. Sam participated in the

AS220 Youth summer employment program,

serving on a mural crew, but throughout has

continued to work on his personal projects

and refine his illustrations.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I like to make interesting characters that no

one has seen before. At first I start by making

shapes, and as they hit my mind, I turn them

into characters and everyone likes them. In

the same way that each person is different

than the next, I like to make each character

starkly different then the next. I start with the

face, and as I move on I think these shapes go

with that face, and so on and so forth. Each

character makes a different home in my head.

When I make a character and finish it, I put

it aside, then I move on to the next one by

thinking of the opposite features of the

previous. For example if my last character was

skinny and tall, I imagine one that is short and

fat. I draw the characters because if I don’t,

they’ll stay in my head. When I draw them

out, I know they’ll stay on that paper and

I can move on. My main goal is to get these

characters out there. They’re always popping

into my head so I want them to be in everyone

else’s too. Whether through tattoos or stickers

or in my art gallery or t shirts, I want them

to be seen.

0908

visualArtsvisualArts

OPAINTING

DRAWING

PRINTMAKING

The Visuals Program offers instruction

in a variety of artistic media. AS220 Youth

provides an environment for young people to

explore various art-making techniques and

enhance their independent creative thinking.

Through weekly classes students learn basic

skills in drawing, painting, screen printing,

mixed media, and stop motion animation.

Students are encouraged to explore their

own creative styles through independent

projects and build personal portfolios. Aside

from gaining technical skills, young people

are taught how to communicate about their

artwork and the artwork of others through

regular individual and group critiques.

Visiting artists often come to the studio

to provide lectures and critiques.

SELF PORTRAITS

To increase students’ confidence in drawing

the human face, program staff take a

participant’s photograph and stylize it in

Photoshop. The young person then works

from this image, which helps to decrease

the focus on lines and increase their

attention to shapes and forms.

SAM ’S DRAWINGS

Sam has been attending AS220 since 2009,

participating in the school-year and summer

employment programs. He draws expressive

characters that speak to the complexities

of his life: some of the faces are hopeful and

radiant, while others shed tears and yell out

in anger as the bap-bap-bap of handguns

echo in the background.

Sam’s drawings have been featured on

t-shirts, posters and stickers. He’ s been a

featured artist in the AS220 Youth magazine,

The Hidden Truth. During the summers,

Sam has also been part of a mural team,

creating large-scale pieces for clients in

the community.

SAM MAKOR

17 years old

Sam has been an AS220 Youth member

since 2009 when he began to develop

his unique drawing style in the Visuals

department. Sam’s crazy, fun creatures have

become well-known throughout the studio

and have even been featured on a series

of studio t-shirts. Sam participated in the

AS220 Youth summer employment program,

serving on a mural crew, but throughout has

continued to work on his personal projects

and refine his illustrations.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I like to make interesting characters that no

one has seen before. At first I start by making

shapes, and as they hit my mind, I turn them

into characters and everyone likes them. In

the same way that each person is different

than the next, I like to make each character

starkly different then the next. I start with the

face, and as I move on I think these shapes go

with that face, and so on and so forth. Each

character makes a different home in my head.

When I make a character and finish it, I put

it aside, then I move on to the next one by

thinking of the opposite features of the

previous. For example if my last character was

skinny and tall, I imagine one that is short and

fat. I draw the characters because if I don’t,

they’ll stay in my head. When I draw them

out, I know they’ll stay on that paper and

I can move on. My main goal is to get these

characters out there. They’re always popping

into my head so I want them to be in everyone

else’s too. Whether through tattoos or stickers

or in my art gallery or t shirts, I want them

to be seen.

0908

MUSIC

DANCEO

performing

Artsperforming

Arts

The Performing Arts program

is dedicated to helping young

people create, perform

and promote their own

musical and performance

work. Through weekly

group classes in the areas

of writing, beatmaking,

vocals, guitar, hip hop and

engineering, young people

are given the foundation

to move into the Delgado,

AS220 Youth’s comprehensive

recording studio.

After artists create and

record their work, they are

given the opportunity to

perform at local shows,

gallery openings and events.

Artists who are able can

also join the performance

troupes, ZuKrewe and 2Legit.

This rich, collaborative

environment provides the

necessary support these

young artists need to

cultivate a unique sound and

message. AS220 challenges

these young artists to think

outside of the commercial

box and truly be themselves.

JAMALE JAY

19 years old

Involved on and off for more than 3 years, participated in 2012

summer employment program learning music production

What are you working on right now?

I am putting together two mix tapes, so I am now at the

studio basically every day until it closes. I have been doing

everything from recording, to trying to get my business cards,

my graphic design, my logos. I have basically been doing

everything that I need to do for my mix tapes.

Did you start right away in Performance when you got

involved at the studio?

The first time I came here, they got me right into music.

I was always really into music, but the first time I came they

had us pick out beats and we started writing right there.

I expected it to be more slow-paced, but they kind of threw

us right into it. And I think that’s the best way. Right after that

I made my first song and then I just...continued making songs.

How would you describe AS220 to the world?

AS220 is a great place for people to be themselves and

do anything they want to do in life. It is limitless. You have

resources here. You have people to help you, and there is no

censor on what you can or can’t do. You can come here, be

yourself, accomplish what you need to, and you have people

that will support you and help you–for free. It is free training

in art you want. Recording artists get to record for free. It’s

just a great environment. As an artist, when I first came here

at 14 or 15, to be able to say or do whatever I want in the

studio...that is unheard of for youth programs to allow you

to totally be yourself and say whatever you want to say.

How would you describe the social life of the studio?

It is diverse, just like everything else here at AS220. It is a

good environment. Everyone is nurturing. Everyone is cool.

Everybody is real, you know, because it is a youth program

and people are allowed to be themselves.

AS220 YOUTH OFFER QUARTERLY SHOWCASES

& PARENT NIGHTS, TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS,

STAFF, AND PARENTS ARE AWARE OF THE

POSITIVE WORK BEING DONE COLLECTIVELY.

AS220 YOUTH OFFER QUARTERLY SHOWCASES & PARENT NIGHTS, TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS, STAFF, AND PARENTS ARE AWARE OF THE POSITIVE WORK BEING DONE COLLECTIVELY.

1 110

MUSIC

DANCEO

performing

Artsperforming

Arts

The Performing Arts program

is dedicated to helping young

people create, perform

and promote their own

musical and performance

work. Through weekly

group classes in the areas

of writing, beatmaking,

vocals, guitar, hip hop and

engineering, young people

are given the foundation

to move into the Delgado,

AS220 Youth’s comprehensive

recording studio.

After artists create and

record their work, they are

given the opportunity to

perform at local shows,

gallery openings and events.

Artists who are able can

also join the performance

troupes, ZuKrewe and 2Legit.

This rich, collaborative

environment provides the

necessary support these

young artists need to

cultivate a unique sound and

message. AS220 challenges

these young artists to think

outside of the commercial

box and truly be themselves.

JAMALE JAY

19 years old

Involved on and off for more than 3 years, participated in 2012

summer employment program learning music production

What are you working on right now?

I am putting together two mix tapes, so I am now at the

studio basically every day until it closes. I have been doing

everything from recording, to trying to get my business cards,

my graphic design, my logos. I have basically been doing

everything that I need to do for my mix tapes.

Did you start right away in Performance when you got

involved at the studio?

The first time I came here, they got me right into music.

I was always really into music, but the first time I came they

had us pick out beats and we started writing right there.

I expected it to be more slow-paced, but they kind of threw

us right into it. And I think that’s the best way. Right after that

I made my first song and then I just...continued making songs.

How would you describe AS220 to the world?

AS220 is a great place for people to be themselves and

do anything they want to do in life. It is limitless. You have

resources here. You have people to help you, and there is no

censor on what you can or can’t do. You can come here, be

yourself, accomplish what you need to, and you have people

that will support you and help you–for free. It is free training

in art you want. Recording artists get to record for free. It’s

just a great environment. As an artist, when I first came here

at 14 or 15, to be able to say or do whatever I want in the

studio...that is unheard of for youth programs to allow you

to totally be yourself and say whatever you want to say.

How would you describe the social life of the studio?

It is diverse, just like everything else here at AS220. It is a

good environment. Everyone is nurturing. Everyone is cool.

Everybody is real, you know, because it is a youth program

and people are allowed to be themselves.

AS220 YOUTH OFFER QUARTERLY SHOWCASES

& PARENT NIGHTS, TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS,

STAFF, AND PARENTS ARE AWARE OF THE

POSITIVE WORK BEING DONE COLLECTIVELY.

AS220 YOUTH OFFER QUARTERLY SHOWCASES & PARENT NIGHTS, TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS, STAFF, AND PARENTS ARE AWARE OF THE POSITIVE WORK BEING DONE COLLECTIVELY.

1 110

communicationsO

LITERARY MAGAZINE

WRITING

GRAPHIC DESIGN

communicationsWhere I’m From

Where I’m from, little kids run around with no shirt, no shoes,

without a care in the world and every other house

is either burnt down or boarded up.

Where I’m from, tired old faces stare back at you and wonder

what all the hard work amounted to all these years.

Where I’m from, there’s a broken Virgin Mary statue

in every yard, but you can hear church bells ringing

all around the city.

Where I’m from, every house has at least one bunk bed,

old clothes get passed down, and purses get snatched

out of women’s hands for the next meal.

Where I’m from, there’s a lot of love, family, and always sum1

2 talk about yesterday’s problems.

Where I’m from, it’s hard growing up but we’ll all make it,

cus’ serving is what we know.

MARCUS LOPES

UNTitled

I woke up at 7:00 am

Went to sleep for another

15 minutes

Trying to motivate myself

to hop on a bus

that I don’t know when will come

Ri el maldito wauna finalmente yego

Then I realized I forgot my keys

Ponyeta!!

Finally arrived at Main St

I am welcomed by a legion of beggars

asking for cigarettes and change

Playing savior for a day

and handing out only what I had

Confused, I ask Monica,

the sassy receptionist,

when my appointment is

Then she said 3:30

and it was only 12

GERRY FIGUEROAThe Devil wants my soul the angels will takebetter care of me.

CREATIVE WRITING SELECTIONS FROM

THE HIDDEN TRUTH

#34

The Hidden Truth is a literary magazine featuring

work from AS220 Youth members. In the pages

of the Hidden Truth, the voices of young people

–as diverse as they come–are found in their

truest form. Content for the The Hidden Truth

is generated in creative writing classes where

youth are encouraged to explore their own lives

and describe what they see. Digital versions of

The Hidden Truth can be downloaded from

YOUTH.AS220.ORG

THE HIDDEN TRUTH

P

The AS220 Youth Communications program offers training in

graphic design, web development, video, and writing. Program

participants maintain the AS220 Youth website and the social

networks. They publicize upcoming events and document

activities with multimedia blogs.

The Communications team also publishes a literary magazine,

The Hidden Truth. The magazine includes content from all three

teaching sites: the downtown Studio, the RI Training School,

and UCAP middle school.

HAIKU BY

JAYQUAN WIGGINTON

1312

communicationsO

LITERARY MAGAZINE

WRITING

GRAPHIC DESIGN

communicationsWhere I’m From

Where I’m from, little kids run around with no shirt, no shoes,

without a care in the world and every other house

is either burnt down or boarded up.

Where I’m from, tired old faces stare back at you and wonder

what all the hard work amounted to all these years.

Where I’m from, there’s a broken Virgin Mary statue

in every yard, but you can hear church bells ringing

all around the city.

Where I’m from, every house has at least one bunk bed,

old clothes get passed down, and purses get snatched

out of women’s hands for the next meal.

Where I’m from, there’s a lot of love, family, and always sum1

2 talk about yesterday’s problems.

Where I’m from, it’s hard growing up but we’ll all make it,

cus’ serving is what we know.

MARCUS LOPES

UNTitled

I woke up at 7:00 am

Went to sleep for another

15 minutes

Trying to motivate myself

to hop on a bus

that I don’t know when will come

Ri el maldito wauna finalmente yego

Then I realized I forgot my keys

Ponyeta!!

Finally arrived at Main St

I am welcomed by a legion of beggars

asking for cigarettes and change

Playing savior for a day

and handing out only what I had

Confused, I ask Monica,

the sassy receptionist,

when my appointment is

Then she said 3:30

and it was only 12

GERRY FIGUEROAThe Devil wants my soul the angels will takebetter care of me.

CREATIVE WRITING SELECTIONS FROM

THE HIDDEN TRUTH

#34

The Hidden Truth is a literary magazine featuring

work from AS220 Youth members. In the pages

of the Hidden Truth, the voices of young people

–as diverse as they come–are found in their

truest form. Content for the The Hidden Truth

is generated in creative writing classes where

youth are encouraged to explore their own lives

and describe what they see. Digital versions of

The Hidden Truth can be downloaded from

YOUTH.AS220.ORG

THE HIDDEN TRUTH

P

The AS220 Youth Communications program offers training in

graphic design, web development, video, and writing. Program

participants maintain the AS220 Youth website and the social

networks. They publicize upcoming events and document

activities with multimedia blogs.

The Communications team also publishes a literary magazine,

The Hidden Truth. The magazine includes content from all three

teaching sites: the downtown Studio, the RI Training School,

and UCAP middle school.

HAIKU BY

JAYQUAN WIGGINTON

1312

AS220 YOUTH BEGINS BUILDING ONLINE PORTFOLIOS

FOR YOUTH WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED, SO

THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR CREATIVE WORK AFTER

RELEASE. STAFF SERVE AS MENTORS IN AND

OUTSIDE THE FACILITY.

In the Game Design program, youth are offered

instruction in 3D modeling, character design, and game

integration. They develop characters and narratives for

new games and create assets that can be used as mods

on existing games. Although completed portfolio projects

are digital, game developers start with pencil and paper,

practicing their figure drawing skills. Wacom tablets are

used to bring the new characters into Photoshop, and

Blender and Sculptris are used for 3D modeling.

gamedesign

Gamedesign

O3D MODELING

NARRATIVE

CHARACTER DESIGN

In the Video Production classes,

youth are instructed in the use

of digital cameras, lighting kits,

audio gear, and editing software

such as After Effects. Young people

work in collaborative teams, and

less experienced participants

“crew” for more advanced

students until they gain the

needed expertise to lead their

own crew. While some participants

are drawn to documentary,

others focus on music videos or

personal narratives.

INDIRA MILLER

17 years old,

born Belize City, Belize

Currently a junior in high school and a Visuals intern at AS220 through

the Met School, she is active in the video design program and has

participated in the AS220 Youth summer employment program. Indira

first became involved with AS220 Youth through UCAP as a 14 year

old and now, almost 4 years later, is at the studio on a daily basis.

What do you think AS220 has given you that you can’t find

anywhere else?

AS220 has given us all our first step to what we want to do and some-

thing that can make us happy. Everybody comes here to do something

that makes them happy. With me, I come here to take out my stress

and my anger by my paintings and my drawings or by doing my poetry.

The staff here and the other students they can relate to it and they

make you feel so...home-ish. They are like all your family: brothers and

sisters, your second Mom or second Dad. AS220 is just full with family.

Everybody treats each other the right way.

AS220 is a second home. Everybody here cares about what you think.

No ideas are crazy to the staff here. You can come up with the craziest

idea ever, and they will support you in it, as long as you are sure that

it is what you want to do. Really, as long as you have an idea of how to

turn your idea into something big and how it is going to get you out

there, you will get support.

DRAGON

WATCHING

AS220 Youth participant

Kyle Collins recently

made a genre-bending

short called “Dragon

Watching” which will

be features in the 2013

Providence Children’s

Film Festival.

1514

video productionvideo

production

AS220 YOUTH BEGINS BUILDING ONLINE PORTFOLIOS

FOR YOUTH WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED, SO

THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR CREATIVE WORK AFTER

RELEASE. STAFF SERVE AS MENTORS IN AND

OUTSIDE THE FACILITY.

AS220 YOUTH BEGINS BUILDING ONLINE PORTFOLIOS

FOR YOUTH WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED, SO

THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR CREATIVE WORK AFTER

RELEASE. STAFF SERVE AS MENTORS IN AND

OUTSIDE THE FACILITY.

In the Game Design program, youth are offered

instruction in 3D modeling, character design, and game

integration. They develop characters and narratives for

new games and create assets that can be used as mods

on existing games. Although completed portfolio projects

are digital, game developers start with pencil and paper,

practicing their figure drawing skills. Wacom tablets are

used to bring the new characters into Photoshop, and

Blender and Sculptris are used for 3D modeling.

gamedesign

Gamedesign

O3D MODELING

NARRATIVE

CHARACTER DESIGN

In the Video Production classes,

youth are instructed in the use

of digital cameras, lighting kits,

audio gear, and editing software

such as After Effects. Young people

work in collaborative teams, and

less experienced participants

“crew” for more advanced

students until they gain the

needed expertise to lead their

own crew. While some participants

are drawn to documentary,

others focus on music videos or

personal narratives.

INDIRA MILLER

17 years old,

born Belize City, Belize

Currently a junior in high school and a Visuals intern at AS220 through

the Met School, she is active in the video design program and has

participated in the AS220 Youth summer employment program. Indira

first became involved with AS220 Youth through UCAP as a 14 year

old and now, almost 4 years later, is at the studio on a daily basis.

What do you think AS220 has given you that you can’t find

anywhere else?

AS220 has given us all our first step to what we want to do and some-

thing that can make us happy. Everybody comes here to do something

that makes them happy. With me, I come here to take out my stress

and my anger by my paintings and my drawings or by doing my poetry.

The staff here and the other students they can relate to it and they

make you feel so...home-ish. They are like all your family: brothers and

sisters, your second Mom or second Dad. AS220 is just full with family.

Everybody treats each other the right way.

AS220 is a second home. Everybody here cares about what you think.

No ideas are crazy to the staff here. You can come up with the craziest

idea ever, and they will support you in it, as long as you are sure that

it is what you want to do. Really, as long as you have an idea of how to

turn your idea into something big and how it is going to get you out

there, you will get support.

DRAGON

WATCHING

AS220 Youth participant

Kyle Collins recently

made a genre-bending

short called “Dragon

Watching” which will

be features in the 2013

Providence Children’s

Film Festival.

1514

video productionvideo

production

AS220 YOUTH BEGINS BUILDING ONLINE PORTFOLIOS

FOR YOUTH WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED, SO

THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR CREATIVE WORK AFTER

RELEASE. STAFF SERVE AS MENTORS IN AND

OUTSIDE THE FACILITY.

or contact the AS220 development office at 401 831 9327 to make a donation

PLEASE CONSIDER A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION

youth.as220.orgyouth.as220.orgPlease visit

As documented in a report issued in 2011 by the

President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities,

research shows that low-income youth engaged in arts

programs are more likely to stay in school, get higher

grades, graduate high school, and enroll in college.

The report also noted that the benefits of involvement

in the arts increase over time for low-income students,

and that they are more likely than their peers to attend

and do well in college, obtain employment with a future,

volunteer in their communities and participate in the

political process by voting.

AS220 would like to do infinitely more for the

youth served and seeks financial support from you

to do so. AS220 Youth is currently working towards

implementation of an apprenticeship program and a

year-round post-secondary employment program to

further expand access and opportunity in the areas

of art, design and technology, but it can’t be done

without your investment. While AS220 as an

organization has many sources of earned income,

AS220 Youth is reliant on public funding and the

contributed income of individuals and foundations.

AS220 YOUTH SPONSORSAS220 YOUTH STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHY

All photos by AS220 Youth participants and staff members

Scott Lapham and Miguel Rosario. Except where noted.

Anne Kugler, Youth Director

Gianna Rodriguez, Education Director

Anjel Newmann, Performance Coordinator

Justin Holland, Performance Instructor

Joshua Padilla, Performance Instructor

Scott Lapham, Photography Coordinator

Miguel Rosario, Photography Instructor

Caitlin Cali, Visuals Coordinator

Nick Carter, Visuals Instructor

Michael Russo, Communications Project Manager

Jeremy Radtke, Communications Instructor

Karen Orsi, Web Developer

Shura Baryshnikov, Development

16

or contact the AS220 development office at 401 831 9327 to make a donation

PLEASE CONSIDER A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION

youth.as220.orgyouth.as220.orgPlease visit

As documented in a report issued in 2011 by the

President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities,

research shows that low-income youth engaged in arts

programs are more likely to stay in school, get higher

grades, graduate high school, and enroll in college.

The report also noted that the benefits of involvement

in the arts increase over time for low-income students,

and that they are more likely than their peers to attend

and do well in college, obtain employment with a future,

volunteer in their communities and participate in the

political process by voting.

AS220 would like to do infinitely more for the

youth served and seeks financial support from you

to do so. AS220 Youth is currently working towards

implementation of an apprenticeship program and a

year-round post-secondary employment program to

further expand access and opportunity in the areas

of art, design and technology, but it can’t be done

without your investment. While AS220 as an

organization has many sources of earned income,

AS220 Youth is reliant on public funding and the

contributed income of individuals and foundations.

AS220 YOUTH SPONSORSAS220 YOUTH STAFF

PHOTOGRAPHY

All photos by AS220 Youth participants and staff members

Scott Lapham and Miguel Rosario. Except where noted.

Anne Kugler, Youth Director

Gianna Rodriguez, Education Director

Anjel Newmann, Performance Coordinator

Justin Holland, Performance Instructor

Joshua Padilla, Performance Instructor

Scott Lapham, Photography Coordinator

Miguel Rosario, Photography Instructor

Caitlin Cali, Visuals Coordinator

Nick Carter, Visuals Instructor

Michael Russo, Communications Project Manager

Jeremy Radtke, Communications Instructor

Karen Orsi, Web Developer

Shura Baryshnikov, Development

16

AS220 YOUTH

1 15 Empire Street

Providence, RI 02903

| PHONE 401 467 0701

| EMAIL youth@as220.org

youth. AS220.org