Work!
“I got to work with great mentors who guided me and taught me so many things. I have grown as an artist and as an activist.”
A Lot Can Happen in Six Weeks!
Poster by Rainely Olivio
This summer, CAW developed a Remote Digital Public Art Youth Employment Program and committed to providing jobs to over 50 teens and young adults as direct hires.
This was the first remote job for all of our Youth Apprentices (YA’s), and what a job it was! In addition to learning serious skills for the digital workplace, they grappled with challenging topics and crafted compelling messages about social justice issues, including racial and gender equality, animal rights, domestic abuse, child labor, climate change, family separation, mental hygiene and drug addiction, and the rising cost of health care.
The quantity and quality of the work produced are stunning. You can see it all on our web magazine.
While the work was virtual, this robust program packed a lot of real-life experience into six weeks. YA’s met daily via Zoom to discuss their work with CAW Teaching Artist Alinna Diaz-Porro, Program Coordinator Alex Karpa, and Program Manager Lance Paladino. Each YA created content for an online portfolio and received professional feedback from visiting guests. The program wrapped up with two virtual culminating events which were attended by over 100 guests, including CAW board members, NYC school principals and teachers, and representatives from our program partners. Thirteen YA’s were honored with awards for their art or their teamwork. Keep reading for more details!
Building a Professional Portfolio
Watch a short compilation of a few of the video reflections by our YA’s
Each YA completed a personal portfolio which includes a first social justice poster about a theme selected from a preselected list, a second poster about a social justice issue of their own choosing, three of their best photos from the inclusive stock photography collection, and a video reflection. These portfolios have unique URL’s so YA’s can share them when applying for jobs, college, or specialized high schools, or simply show family and friends.
Public speaking is an essential element of every CAW employment program; this year, it took the form of a recorded artist statement on each YA’s portfolio page.
Professional Feedback
Visiting guests from the graphic arts, branding and entertainment industries provided expert critiques on the first draft of each YA’s poster assignments. We are grateful to Elena Gil-Chang, formerly of Lippincott and now of Plaid; Will Dennis a fifteen-year veteran of DC/Vertigo Comics and now an independent editor; Rana Sidahmed of Avery Dennison; and Nina Robbins of F.Y. Eye. Our YA’s found this feedback invaluable; our guest commentators found the experience inspiring.
“Getting to see all the work that the YAs created was really inspiring. They were able to craft evocative messages that incorporate elements of strong graphic design. I’m so impressed by their professional presentation and willingness to take constructive feedback feedback — both of which are the hallmarks of successful designers and creators!”
And the Winners are…
YA’s from the AM cohort voted on their favorite posters created by YA’s in the PM cohort and vice versa. Categories included best Best Poster, Best Runner Up, and Greatest Call to Action. View the winning posters and read artists statements by the winning YA’s HERE.
GREATEST CALL TO ACTION, AM COHORT
GREATEST CALL TO ACTION, PM COHORT
Congratulations to:
Teaching Artist Alinna Diaz-Porro and the program staff chose three YA’s from each cohort that exemplified the qualities we value in an employee.
Coming to screens all over the city…
Congratulations to Abigaile Jeudy! Abigail’s poster was chosen to be featured on F.Y. Eye’s digital PSA Network, an ecosystem of over 100 digital billboards located in high-traffic nonprofits throughout NYC, built specifically to promote advocacy messages. Congratulations as well to Jackelyne Hernandez, who took the key photo in this poster as part of the inclusive stock photography assignment, which created a gallery of shared images YA’s could use to create their social justice posters.
“F.Y. Eye is thrilled to be able to donate media on our community-driven advertising platform – the PSA Network – to amplify social justice art designed during CAW’s Remote Digital Public Art Program. We were honored to participate in the poster critique sessions and meet these focused, creative, and empathetic Youth Apprentices who have so much to be proud of.”
This Public Art Youth Employment program was made possible in part by public funds from the Manhattan Borough President’s Manhattan Community Award Program, and by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Additional funding was provided by the Crowell & Moring Foundation, The RBC Foundation, The Sills Family Foundation, and the many sponsors and donors who contributed to our 2020 Annual Benefit for Kids.