SUMMER | 2011

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH)

had a busy summer, which included hosting another fantastic

Summer Youth Employment Program! The summer issue

of the ART(202) Journal shares the agency’s summer

youth perspectives and the unique jobs and professional

development opportunities that these DC youth experienced.

If you’ve been following the work of DCCAH, you’ll hear us talk a

lot about the impact of the city’s “creative economy.” This concept

acknowledges that DC’s arts activities and cultural industries

are a significant contributor to the city’s economic growth and development. Key

to the creative economy are its employees – over 90,000, roughly 12%, of District

jobs are associated with creative jobs in businesses, nonprofits and federal agencies.

The DC Commission wants to ensure that DC youth understand the variety of creative

career pathways that exist in the city, so that they can pursue training and educational

opportunities, resulting in exciting and lucrative jobs. With our dedicated partner,

the Department of Employment Services (DOES), DCCAH placed sixty students

at eight worksites where they learned a variety of skills: marketing, sales, technical

theater, arts administration, acting, painting, writing, set design and art conservation.

Our agency paired these internships with weekly trainings and field trips that

exposed them to the skill sets and prospective careers in the fields of their choice.

summer volume

EDITORS • CARLYN MADDEN • DAVID JOSEPH | CONTRIBUTORS • ERICA SCOTT • MAGGIE MENDITTO

| DESIGNER • ROD LITTLE

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Through collaboration with DOES for the One City Summer Youth Employment

Program, the Commission invested over $120,000 in the creative economy through

SYEP salaries, support from the worksites and unique programs that lent insight

to creative career pathways. Our gratitude goes out to DOES and the worksite

supervisors that recognize the importance of these summer job opportunities.

Congratulations to all the participants – we were happy to have worked with

you this summer. We wish you much luck in pursuing future creative careers!

Ayris T. SCALES |INTERIM ExECuTIVE DIRECTOR

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EricA SCOTT• 20 years old

• university of Delaware

• Studying Fashion Merchandising

• Art is: Different for everyone. For some people it’s expressing yourself, for some people it’s creating beauty, for others its being inventive and creative.

contributors

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MAggiE MENDITTO• 16 years old

• Woodrow Wilson Senior High School

• In Wilson’s Humanities, Arts and Media Academy

• Art is: Anything that requires creativity

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According to the Washington DC Economic Partnership’s 2010 study, Creative

Capital, arts and culture is a huge economic driver for the city. The business

generated from all things arts and culture is known as the “Creative Economy.” Did

you know that DC’s creative economy generates roughly $5 billion in wages in one

year? Or that 12 percent of all of the city’s jobs are provided through the creative

sector– making 90,000 creative career opportunities in the nation’s capital? In the

District of Columbia, The Arts Mean Business, which is the reason DCCAH partnered

with the Department of Employment Services (DOES) to create a summer program

that provided exposure to career pathways in creative businesses and organizations.

Through the 2011 One City Summer Youth Employment Program, DCCAH placed DC

teens in internships at arts nonprofits such as Capital Fringe, City Arts, City at Peace,

Foto DC, Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop, Gala Hispanic Theatre, Guerilla

Arts and the Theatre Lab School for Dramatic Arts. Over the course of six weeks,

60 youth were employed at local arts nonprofits, learning skills as stage hands, box

office assistants, marketing assistants, writers, actors, visual artists, event planners

and art administrators. Each Friday, the interns participated in a series of weekly

field trips that paired professional development workshops with career panels and

visits to local arts institutions and media companies. Check out Page 7 to learn more.

DCCAH’s Summer Youth Employment Program enabled the city’s youth to explore and

capitalize on their creative talents. The program provided access to a creative outlet

that encouraged students to reach their full potential as a professional in the arts!

about the creative economy

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about the creative economy

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This summer, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

(DCCAH), in partnership with the DC Department of

Employment Services (DOES), hosted sixty creative youth

through the 2011 One City Summer Youth Employment

Program. Students came from all over the city, representing a

wide range of high schools, including Duke Ellington School

of the Arts, Woodrow Wilson Senior High School, Phillips

Academy, Spingarn Senior High School, Ballou High School,

The Seed School, Maya Angelou Public Charter School, as

well as colleges throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

about DCCAH SYEP

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URbAn AlliAncE

A key partner in the success of Friday Fundamentals

was urban Alliance – a DC-based nonprofit organization

that prepares teens to join the workforce through paid

internships, formal training, and mentorship. Since

1996, urban Alliance has partnered with more than 100

businesses to provide 1,000 students with internship

opportunities. In collaboration with DCCAH, urban Alliance

presented workshops on basic business skills, personal

finance, networking and resume-building – all necessary

to the SYEP youths’ future success in the workplace!

These sixty youth were placed in internships at eight arts-focused nonprofits

throughout the District, including Capital Fringe Festival, City Arts, City at Peace,

FotoDC, Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop, GALA Hispanic Theatre and the

Theatre Lab for the Performing Arts. For six weeks, students gained hands-on work

experience in various arts-related fields, including multimedia, technical theater, arts

administration, performance design, marketing and visual design. In addition to their

onsite internships, the students participated in a weekly workshop series called Friday

Fundamentals. Each Friday, youth gathered at Cultural Development Corporation’s

Mead Theatre Lab to learn about different career pathways in the arts, and gain the skills

necessary to advance in the workplace. Workshop topics included basic business skills

personal finance, social media in the workplace, resume building, and college access.

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eXposure tour

With the group exposure, our Friday, July 15 was spent outside our normal worksites,

touring news stations in downtown, D.C., where we were exposed to many careers

in media arts and communications. Our day began with a tour of Al Jazeera English,

where we met both behind the scenes investigative journalists and public television

reporters that explained their work. At the Washington Bureau of ABC and ESPN,

we learned the ins and outs of working in a news station, from the control rooms

to the studios where the shows are filmed. We visited the set of the sports talk

show, “Around the Horn,” which had a lively, modern set that inspired many of the

aspiring set designers, graphic designers, and photographers in our group. After

the media tours, we went to the Flashpoint Theatre for a panel on communications

and media arts, where we got the opportunity to learn from many artists successful

in their fields. Writers of Capitol File Magazine discussed how getting internships

can further our careers. Vanessa Camozzi discussed her work as a freelance

reporter for the blog and television segment “DC on Heels.” They were followed

by Chris Gardner, a video producer for NBC universal and Comcast Sports, Kenya

Farmer, a production manager for BET Honors and Justine Love, a host for WPGC

Radio who gave a motivating presentation on networking and “selling” yourself.

BY ERICA SCOTT

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field trips

Smithsonian American Art Museum: On our

visit to the Smithsonian American Art Museum

we were given to free range to explore. Some

people were fascinated by the New Directions

in the Art of the Moving Image collection

while others roamed the Close to Home:

Photographers and their Families exhibit.”I

liked the nontraditional forms of art from

the Art of the Moving Image collection,” said

DCCAH Social Media Intern Erica Scott, 20.

The Museum features different exhibits every

year as well as rotating collection installations.

Corcoran Gallery and College:As a part of the weekly field trips, the group went on a

tour of the Corcoran Gallery which included a walk through the College located in the

basement. Guided by two Corcoran students, we saw the inside of many art classes

including a photography class, a sculpting class and a classroom for foundation &

design. Many of the participants were excited by the tour and inspired at the possibility

of attending the College. “This school has what I’d like to learn,” said DCCAH intern

Deisy umanzor, 17, as we made our way up the stairs to the Gallery. On our tour of the

Gallery we saw the exhibit, Washington Color and Light, which features art from

artists associated with the Washington Color School and their contemporaries. Each

of the pieces in the exhibit were connected in their focus on light and color. After we

toured the exhibit we were left to roam the Gallery and explore the rest of the exhibits.

BY MAGGIE MENDITTO

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Q: What type of art do you hope to pursue?

A: Aside from acting and writing: lighting and design. Being [at GALA Hispanic Theatre] I’ve learned that the things you don’t see are equally important. Theater is not a one person job, all parts [of the production] are important.

Q: How has the program affected you?

A: When I started here I was so shy about [my art]. But this environment is so accepting about whatever I do. By the third day we were all already friends. It has showed me that there are so many things I am able to do.

DAniEl PEREz• 17 years old

• Senior, Washington International School, Worked at GALA Hispanic Theatre

• Writer/Actor/Theater Techp

er

ez

DANIEL

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gala hispanic theatreSince 1976, GALA (Grupo de Artistas Latinoamericanos) Hispanic Theatre has

developed and produced works that explore the breadth of Latino performing

arts. GALA provides opportunities for Latino art, educates youth, and engages

the entire community in an exchange of ideas and perspectives. Each year,

GALA offers a range of educational activities for youth. Now in its 18th year,

Paso Nuevo is an after-school workshop for at-risk youth ages 13 – 17 where

students explore issues of identity and cultural differences, articulate their values,

increase self-esteem, and gain bilingual skills to enhance academic performance

and future career opportunities. In addition to Paso Nuevo, GALA trained

nine SYEP workers, who were introduced to a variety of theatrical techniques,

including acting, movement, dance, stage combat, and musical exploration.

Together, these programs culminated in two new and original productions:

“La Familia Lobato” and “Young and Collected”, both showing on August 13th.

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critical exposure

Critical Exposure is a nonprofit whose mission is to use the power of

photography and their youth voices to become effective advocates for

school reform and social change. By focusing on youth empowerment,

public engagement, and policy change, Critical Exposure hopes to make

citizens and policymakers aware of the issues that affect youth on a daily

basis. Founded in 2004, Critical Exposure has worked with more than 800

youth in Washington, DC and around the country.

As part of the 2011 One City Summer Youth Employment Program, Critical

Exposure met twice a week with students from DCCAH to teach skills

in documentary photography, leadership, and advocacy. Their

training culminated in an exhibit showcasing the students’

photographs, which all related to the theme of “The

Confidante” “The partnership between Critical Exposure

and DCCAH has been a great opportunity to provide

our combined training and resources to a very

talented group of young women. Their photos

and stories documenting the lives and challenges

faced by girls in DC can teach us as a community

how we can provide better support.”

–Adam Levner, Executive Director, Critical Exposure

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fo

rd

DELTA

Q: What type of art do you hope to pursue?

A: I’m doing everything that I like to do. I like to dance, I do that, and I write poetry, and I do that.

Q: How has the program affected you?

A: It has broadened my horizons. You know, you meet new people, and that’s when you get exposed to new things.

DElTA fORD • 14 years old

• Freshman, Woodrow Wilson Senior High School, Worked at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in the Public Art Department

• Dance & Poetry

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dccah’s public artThe Art Around is an online comprehensive map of all the art in DC. The site allows anyone to

view or learn about public art that is installed either permanently or temporarily throughout

the District of Columbia. Viewers can search by the type of art they are interested in (i.e.

murals, statues, guerrilla art, museums, etc.), by neighborhood and also by ward. This summer

two SYEP students visited nearly every public art project that DCCAH commissioned.

These young scholars took detailed pictures of each of the projects, researched the artist,

medium and uploaded the important details to theartaround.us. In addition, to their work

on theartaround.us, the SYEP student created condition reports for each of the visited

public art projects. The SYEP students took measurements and noted if the work needed

any repairs. Both of these projects have greatly assisted the public art department. Their

invaluable time and effort has made DCCAH’s public art collection more accessible to the

online community and will help the agency determine what art work is in need of repair.

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multi-media training institute

Founded in 1982, the Multi-Media Training Institute (MMTI) is a nonprofit media production

and training corporation located in Ward 5. using the tools of media, computer technology, the

performing arts and entrepreneurship, MMTI has endeavored to inform, educate and inspire

youth and young adults, reaching more than 1,000 people in the Washington, DC region

during the last twenty years. DCCAH has partnered with MMTI on various projects since 2002.

In partnership with the Department of Employment Services (DOES), DCCAH commissioned

MMTI to produce a 60-second spot that showcased the 2011 One City Summer Youth

Employment Program (SYEP) by training 29 youth workers involved in the DOES summer

jobs program. DOES will use the video to recruit DC youth for the 2012 summer jobs program.

“Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today” features the important role SYEP plays in the lives

of DC youth – from innovative worksites and skill sets to the careers held by past SYEP

participants. Mr. Lyn Dyson, President of the Multi-Media Training Institute, explains that

the youth have learned a variety of skills involving the media arts. “These young people will

have skills in several areas: producing, writing, editing, camera, lights and sound. They will

be able write a script for a client, they will be able to shoot a camera and get good picture

and sound, some of them can do basic editing, some of them will have the skills to produce

a show and understand all the elements of pulling a show together from scheduling,

equipment, personnel and talent in addition to post production which includes editing.”

The DC Commission is thrilled that these students had such a rewarding experience!

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Ro

bin

son

CHANTAL

Q: What inspires you/your art?

A: Many things such as the Internet, my thoughts and what makes me laugh.

Q: What does art mean to you?

A: Art means expressing your feelings but also trying to convey a message that people can understand.

Q: How has the program affected you?

A: It has helped me understand that there are many forms of art.

chAnTAl ROBINSON,• 18 years old

• Freshman, Virginia Commonwealth university, Worked at FOTO DC

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foto dcFounded just three years ago, FOTO DC has evolved from a local

photography festival to a nonprofit organization dedicated to year-

round exhibitions, programming and collaborations featuring inspiring

and provocative local and international photography. Whether through

photojournalism, fine art photography, or the work of emerging artists,

FotoWeek DC provides a dynamic, evocative, engaging experience for

photographers, cultural institutions, galleries, curators, schools, area

residents and tens of thousands of visitors to the Nation’s Capital.

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thank yousThe DC Commission could not have

had such successful Summer Youth

Employment Program without the

assistance of its partners, worksite

supervisors, staff and wonderful SYEP

workers. Our sincere thanks go out to

all of you!

DCCAH appreciates the coordination,

teamwork and patience it took

manage our agency’s many different

SYEP components. We believe that

the SYEP workers’ summer experience

exposed them to a variety of

opportunities to build careers in the

arts, and look forward to their many

contributions to our city’s creative

economy!

Our special thanks to the Department

of Employment Services, who believed

in our program from the beginning –

Gerren Price, Whitney Hopkins and

Lisa Mallory – thank you!

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worksites

Cristian BaezJoel BattleDiana CastilloJessy De LeonChristopher DonaldTyrone LumpkinsAngel PerezAntonio SimpsonTessa Thomas Shabre West

Dolores BryantTravis BurressLonnell ButlerNatia ConteeMonet CorbettVictoria DeLaineFaizah HolderDonna HoughMakayla Jackson

Michelle JohnsonAryonna LucasVincent MooreJustyce NelsonJahi SuleMalaysia TyreeJazmine WilsonBrandon Workman

Jasmine BentonAnscia BrownDelta FordJereese JohnsonDachele KentMaggie MendittoErica ScottDeisy umanzorTanisha Walker

Tiara FletcherSteven GlanvilleDeshawn La HauptCameron Sneed

Kyndall BrownCourtney ChaseCD Duncan

Keith CurranDemetrius Simms

Cindy CanasReginald ConwayCindy CruzKristin EllisJulia JensenAbiana Patton-TourePaige PenderDaniel PerezChristian Sanchez

Chantal Robinson

Kenny Howe

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artbankThrough its partnership with Critical Exposure,

the agency commissioned 22 new photographs

to add to the DC Commission’s Art Bank

Collection. The Art Bank Collection is comprised

of 2,100 works of art, purchased from local

artists, which is installed in public areas of

District of Columbia government agencies.

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missionThe DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities provides grants, programs and educational activities that encourage diverse artistic expressions and learning opportunities, so that all District of Columbia residents and visitors can experience the rich culture of the city.

Staff

Ayris T. Scales | Interim Executive Director

Moshe Adams | Director of Grants and Legislative Affairs

Ebony Blanks | Associate Grants Manager

Mary Beth Brown | Outreach Coordinator

Tim Conlon | Social Media Coordinator

Rachel Dickerson | Public Art Program Manager

Deirdre Ehlen | Public Art Project Manager

Kamau Hunter | Media and Production Manager

Erin Jackson | Grants and Operations Assistant

Sharon Jeffries | Executive Assistant

Charlese Jennings | Receptionist

David Joseph | Summer Youth Employment Coordinator

Yuyeon Kim | Graphic Designer

Carlyn Madden | Arts Education Manager

Steven Mazzola | Grants Program Manager

Carolyn Parker | Office Manager

Keona Pearson | Associate Grants Manager

Marquis Perkins | Director of Marketing and Communications

Aliza Schiff | Public Art Program Assistant

Earica Simmons | Finance Manager

Zoma Wallace | Curator and Arts Collections Manager

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commissioners

Dolores Kendrick | Poet Laureate of the District of Columbia

Judith Terra | Chairman, Ward 4

Marvin Bowser | Vice Chair, Ward 8

Susan Clampitt | Ward 6

Christopher Cowan | Ward 3

Lou Hill Davidson | Ward 2

Rebecca Fishman | Ward 2

Rhona Wolfe Friedman, J.D. | Ward 2

Phillipa Hughes | At-Large

Rogelio Maxwell | Ward 3

Tendani Mpulubusi | Ward 8

Bernard Richardson | Ward 1

Deborah Royster | Ward 4

Michael R. Sonnenreich | Ward 2

Lavinia Wohlfarth | Ward 5

Gretchen Wharton | Ward 2

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