This project empowers my students, particularly those of color, to have their voices heard by participating in workshops on painting, murals and photography facilitated by Andrew Godreaux, an NYC artist of Latino decent. MAD Academy is a community and physical space for creative work and social-emotional healing through the arts.
We have a large black and latino student population so it is important to hire arts mentors who are also people of color who graduated from the NYC public school system to show my students more possibilities for their future while also directly benefiting artists of color in NYC.
Post-pandemic, my students need more love, healing and support than ever in all developmental spheres: emotional, academic, social and psychological. My students are all seeking to make sense of themselves and the world through their art. This is an intimate and vulnerable process so there is a special need for authenticity in who’s mentoring and teaching them; feedback and support is more valued when the mentor giving it truly understands the student. There is a special relationship between people who have been through similar experiences. It is easier for young students to connect to these mentors because it shows they successfully pursued their dreams and that provides inspiration.
In the NYCDOE, there is a lack of male teachers of color so elevating male artist mentors of color is important. When students can relate to their mentors, it shortcuts the time it usually takes to build trust and credibility between students and teachers, improving student outcomes and well-being. This project is rooted in our school's philosophy as a progressive public high school, known for its innovative experiential-based education model. As an anti-racist school, we continuously seek to dismantle white supremacy and center traditionally marginalized people, voices and stories.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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