Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts Offers You Will Rise Project: An Art Against Bullying Residency
For Immediate Release: September 23, 2021
Contact: Marci McFadden | Chief of Communications | 831.706.6971
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts Offers You Will Rise Project: An Art Against Bullying Residency
Media invited to cover: Colorful visuals available
Seaside, CA - For more than six weeks, 6th grade students at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts participated in a unique Art Against Bullying Residency with Paul Richmond, founder of the You Will Rise Project.
The residency program prioritized the rising 6th grade classes, approximately 65 student artists, at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School of the Arts, during their art class schedule during the regular school day.
This residency program culminates in an art exhibit of the projects created on Friday, September 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The art exhibit will be on display for three weeks through October.
6th grade student artists will host gallery visits and discussions about bullying to the greater student body.
The residency program aligns to the school’s existing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system to support a positive school culture and climate. This is the first year that MLK: SOA has participated in this program.
“It has been an incredible way to kick off the school year to build leadership, empathy, creativity and community,” said MLK:SOA Art Teacher Wendi Everett.
As part of the program, 3rd and 4th graders had an opportunity to engage in fiber arts with local artist Jaki Canterbury from Slow Fiber of Monterey. This project taught students the art of embroidery and teaching sustainability in the fabric/fashion industry. These projects will also be featured in future art exhibits in the campus art gallery.
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About You Will Rise
The non-profit You Will Rise has been implementing the Art Against Bullying workshops for 10 years. They have successfully facilitated this residency program with on-side community partner, Palenke Arts, which is open to Monterey Peninsula Unified School District middle school students. The mission of the You Will Rise Project is to provide a multimedia showcase for people of all ages who have been bullied to share their stories through the arts. Submissions include visual art, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, videos, and more. Poetry, song lyrics, short stories, and other creative expressions that best capture personal experiences will also be on display. The You Will Rise Project asks only that contributors be truthful and real. No alterations or corrections are made to the works posted on the site.
About Jaki Canterbury - Slow Fiber
Jaki has facilitated a fiber arts residency with MLK:SOA 3rd grade artists in 2018. Jacki’s experience is the sustainability of the fashion and fabric industry. She is passionate about slowing the consumption of cheap clothing by teaching individuals to epicycle, mend, recycle, salvage clothing. She brings expertise to the art room in teaching students about the development of yarn, spinning, stitching, history of fashion, etc. Jaki is skilled at working with elementary level students and engages them with her positive attitude. The 2019 fiber arts residency was a fan favorite with the MLK:SOA students. This program supports the fiber arts unit in the MLK:SOA art curriculum.