Are you considering getting your students involved in a YAFH project? Check out the many positive things that art teachers have to say about the YAFH program:
"Since 2015, the first year my students and I participated in YAFH, I have been so excited each October to get started on a new YAFH project! I love being able to help my students grow in so many ways through participating in YAFH. They grow in their artistic, creative, and critical thinking skills. They grow in their sense of empathy, philanthropy, community. They grow in their maturity and self-confidence. It is such a joy for me to witness all that growth, and to know that all their hard work will bring so much more joy to so many more people for years to come!"
— Lauren Dougherty, Visual Art Teacher at Wheaton High School
“The 2021-22 school year was the first year our school participated [in the YAFH program] and it was such a great experience. We noticed students taking ownership of the painting they were working on, collaboration, and a sense that they were doing something big and meaningful. Students also learned a lot of lessons about techniques and instructors learned a lot of lessons about best practices. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful program.”
— Ms. Tolson and Mr. Heck, Visual Art Teachers at Benjamin D. Foulois Creative and Performing Arts Academy
“We cannot thank YAFH enough for continuing to work with us every year. We have such an amazing experience watching the students’ paintings evolve and change. As artists, they build their painting skills, learn how to create effective compositions, and build their knowledge of color theory. More importantly, they have a chance at a real-world experience working with an amazing art director, they learn how to grow from constructive criticism, and experience what a deadline really looks like.”
– Ms. Cone and Ms. Pond, Visual Arts Teachers and National Art Honor Society Co-Sponsors at Charles H. Flowers High School
“When Youth Art for Healing was presented to us, we thought it would be a great opportunity to involve ourselves in the community, but we never could have imagined how much our students could get from this process or the impact it would have on them throughout the school year.
“The students really worked as a team. It was incredible to watch them walk around and critique each other's paintings with constructive criticism, always being mindful of their words. They helped each other paint, stay focused, and put in the time necessary to complete their work. Stronger painters would share painting techniques with students who were struggling. Students that weren't as strong at painting would give feedback on color and composition to others. They had group discussions about how the painting would make them feel if they were in the office viewing it. They would ask, is it calming? Does it make you feel relaxed or happy? Are the colors cheerful?
“Throughout the process we, as educators, witnessed them grow as artists. While the students were mindful of who they were painting for, they were not scared to try new techniques or colors they may have never used. They learned about composition, color theory, painting techniques, and working with a client. Overall, this experience has shown them that their artwork can make a difference and that their work has value. This is an experience they will carry with them for many years to come.”
— Charles H. Flowers High School Art Department
“I see a marked change in my students and within myself through our participation with YAFH projects. Our learning and sharing are quite unique and unmatched by any regular classroom situation. Our time together, late afternoons in most cases, lends itself to special, personal conversations and at times silliness, giving birth to new relationships based on our shared YAFH experiences… Helping to make a difference in the world one artwork at a time fills our hearts and the world with happiness. Our art makes a positive difference, which improves the lives of its creators and the viewers of our art, making us all feel better about our lives.”
— Gretchen Goldsmith, Visual Art Teacher at Damascus High School
“I am grateful for this opportunity to provide my students with a real-life experience of the power of art. Especially during the pandemic, the YAFH project gave me the opportunity to connect with students who are passionate about art in a hands-on, meaningful way. Thank you so much for having this program.”
— [John Ward or Limor Dekel], Visual Art Teacher at Watkins Mill High School
“The 2021-22 school year has been a challenging year. Many students had a hard time readjusting to a regular schedule [after the pandemic]. To be honest, I was slightly concerned that my students would struggle to complete their YAFH paintings as my classes were all struggling to stay on top of their work. To my surprise and amazement, the opposite happened. Each student that took on this commitment took it seriously and worked extremely hard to create the absolute best piece they could… and seeing the pride my students felt in their work brought me so much joy.”
— Sara Foraker, Fine Arts Teacher at Montgomery Blair High School
“My students were so happy and honored to participate [in a YAFH project]. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to serve the community with our love for painting!”
— Quan Duong, Visual Art Teacher at Thomas S. Wootton High School
“Our Art Department is small, yet growing. Many of our students have not had art class in years or have only been participating in art for a short time. When they come into our class, it can be challenging for them to find their source of creative expression and inspiration. The Youth Art for Healing project provided opportunities for our students to grow as creative individuals and create with materials that they hadn’t used prior to this experience. Some of the students were AP artists, while others were enrolled in Art One and painting for the first time. But every student learned more about technique, the creating process, and what it means to create for someone else.
“While it seems simple to create work for a medical center, this experience was so much more. Not only will our students’ work be permanently placed in a medical center, they will remember this experience for the rest of their lives. I hope to continue to work with Youth Art for Healing on future projects to provide my students with an opportunity of a lifetime.”
— Leslie Hargrove, Visual Art Teacher at Gwynn Park High School