Philip Jackson believes that kids need creative outlets.
“What you find is, when kids are creative, they’re less apt to get into trouble. They do better in school. They take pride in themselves,” he said.
“Some people, their creative ability may be in the culinary field, designing dishes, unique menus, things like that,” Jackson said. “Other people, maybe it’s mechanical, such as automobiles … jazzing up their cars and things like that. Everyone has that ability to be creative, just in different ways.”
After working 27 years with an art service and presenting organization in New York, Jackson created a nonprofit organization, The WYE Project, in Kissimmee. The WYE Project (stands for World Youth Expo) gives students an opportunity to explore their creativity this summer at the Boys and Girls Club of St. Cloud summer camp. The eight-week program, called “Reflections: Portraits of Who I Am,” encouraged students to explore their inner selves.
“It’s not a painting class per se, so they’re not learning how to paint. We want them just to be freely expressive with their works,” Jackson said. “In a sense, it’s art therapy.”
With the help of Jackson and three student interns, 17 youths were encouraged to explore their strengths and weaknesses, as well as face their fears, all through the strokes of a paintbrush.
One of those interns, S. Martin, said, “It was refreshing to see the youth expressing themselves through paint and art without feeling any sort of pressure to make things perfect. It’s inspired me to take time to just make things, without worrying about perfection. This experience proved to be helpful for my growth as a person, and beneficial to me as someone who is just beginning to look into employment/first jobs.”
“This is our second year with the Boys and Girls Club, and it has been a really successful collaboration,” Jackson said. On Saturday, the art was showcased at the Boys and Girls Club, and select pieces will be on display at the St. Cloud Library beginning Oct. 15.
“It’s been proven time and time again: anyone that has any kind of creative ability and is exploring that creativity, they do much better academically,” Jackson said. “And that’s the ultimate goal - to get these kids to do well in school and to move forward from that point, to get good jobs, go on to college, maybe even get a career. That’s basically what it’s all about.”
The funding for the summer workshop was provided by The City of St. Cloud Community Support Grant Program.
