Our Programs
Promoting Peace + Justice
Our Promoting Peace + Justice workshops bring teens who are at-risk and court-involved together with members of local law enforcement to help breakdown stereotypes and explore implicit bias and social justice issues through collaborative art. Our team members, teaching artists, and guest speakers from a wide range of disciplines help provide a safe space for officers and teens to engage in honest discussions about community and racially motivated violence, social justice issues, and other challenging topics.
Since its inception, over 114 teens and 65 members of law enforcement have attended 40 class sessions. A public mural, which incorporates the original art created by class participants, is publicly displayed. This program is more critical now than ever.
HeART Packs
The Arts Empowerment Project’s HeART Packs outreach program provides art care packages containing age-appropriate art supplies, drawing pads, coloring books, educational games, comfort and creative toys, healthy snacks, gift cards, and a message of hope for children who are at-risk. With their HeART Packs, children can connect with peers supportive adults by participating in online art classes designed to explore creative outlets and positive self-expression. Schools, businesses and individuals collect supplies and assemble HeART Packs, involving the broader community in TAEP’s work.
Free Arts
The Arts Empowerment Project’s Free Arts program brings arts experiences to underserved youth enrolled in after school programs at Youth Learning Centers at the YWCA of the Central Carolinas. Visiting artists, funded by TAEP, and volunteers work with students to explore character development, social and emotional learning, and literacy through the arts. Throughout the year, students and their families have several opportunities to attend local theatrical performances, and participate in cultural enrichment.
Encounters
Encounters engages students through art-making and facilitated discussion with arts educators and guest artists. Youth gain skills through arts instruction, encouraging positive choices and self-awareness while also promoting leadership and orientation to educational and career goals. Youth involved in this program are middle school through high school ages, where character development and coping skills are highlighted.
Arts Access
Collaborating with local organizations, we accept referrals from social workers and court counselors who identify young people who will benefit from meaningful arts experiences to foster their creativity and deepens their community connections. TAEP then matches youth with unused slots in existing programs. Students benefit from full tuition sponsorship of unique arts-focused camps, interactive trips to museums, attendance at theater performances, one-on-one lessons, and group lessons from wide range of collaborating arts organizations including Arts Plus, Blumenthal Performing Arts, Children’s Theatre, The Harvey B. Gantt Center, The Levine Museum of the New South, The Mint Museum, and Fuzion Force.
Culinary Camp
With the help of professional chefs, teens who are court-involved – particularly those aging out of the foster care system – develop skills in healthy eating, nutrition, shopping and cooking skills. Participants explore opportunities in the culinary arts and culinary career tracks.
