ABQ Times

Nineteen local high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates are nearing the completion of an eight-week paid summer mentorship focused on exploring arts-based opportunities in the city. The Mayor's Creative Youth Corps, supported by Mayor Tim Keller and the Department of Arts & Culture, provides leadership training, community-building, and career exploration opportunities for Albuquerque's youth.

"Young people in our community need positive outlets for their creativity," said Mayor Tim Keller. "This paid internship encourages them to express themselves while preparing them for growth and success no matter what they choose to do in their careers."

Each participant was assigned to a different host site and worked closely with mentors or mentor teams to enhance their skills in the creative field. Among the projects were building the City's Pride Parade float; writing and producing a song to promote city job opportunities; creating an art installation at the Children's Advocacy Center; and organizing Alpaca Punch, an art exhibit and performance at Alpaca Gallery.

The Mayor's Creative Youth Corps will make their end-of-summer presentation at the Albuquerque Museum on Friday, July 26 at 3 p.m. The presentation will highlight the work the cohort created over the summer, as well as the artistic achievements and community impact fostered by the program. RSVPs are required at https://tinyurl.com/yc74k7e6.

"Providing youth with arts-based opportunities sparks their interest in arts, culture, and public service, and shows them how to infuse creativity into any professional field," said Dr. Shelle Sanchez, director of Arts & Culture. "By fostering these skills, we empower young people to become innovative leaders and contributors to their communities."

This year’s participants included Shea Jarjusey; J. Hopper; Maddy Drane; Analiese Gonzales; Eisa Duke; Ava Grubbs; Hayden Moody; Andrea Dominguez; Mariana Pedroza; Lana Nguyen; Ruben Carrell; Marcos Granath; Nadia Torres; Jude Kuykendall; Henry Deacon; Kevin Guardado; Briah Brown; Saja Yaeger; and Cairo Schlee.

Schools represented included Public Academy for Performing Arts; Siembra Leadership High School; Atrisco Heritage Academy; Cibola High School; NM Media Arts Collaborative Charter School; Albuquerque High School; Digital Arts and Technology Academy; Bosque School; Hope Christian School; Manzano High School; and the New Mexico School for the Arts.

In addition to various City departments, partners and mentors were Fuego Artspace and Mitch Berg; Andrew Fearnside Art and Design;

BINGO studios and gallery and Lance Ryan McGoldrick;

National Hispanic Cultural Center;

516 ARTS;

Friends of the Orphan Signs;

Julianna Kirwin Block Prints;

111 T-Shirt Lab;

Together for Brothers: Explora;

OffCenter Community Arts Project;

FUSION;

Christopher Walsh;

National Institute of Flamenco;

Bryce Hample;

Aaron Nieto;

Diana Delgado;

Rhiannon Fraizer;

Emily Baron;

Talis Frouge;

and Anaya Gonzalez.

"MCYC has been a great way for me to gain experience in creative spaces, and to see how I can be a part of ABQ's artistic community!" said Saja Yaeger.

"MCYC has offered me a new perspective, a way to call ABQ home by showing me the artistic side of this city," added Kevin Guardado.