Why CAW Summer Youth Apprentices Keep Coming Back
Left to right: Lorenzo Vegara, Allison Andrea Martinez, Max Batista, Jonathan Hyman, and Nur Malik Ruiz
We’ve often said that working for Creative Art Works is the best summer job in NYC, and it turns out that a lot of young New Yorkers agree. Of the 115 Youth Apprentices who joined Creative Art Works for our Public Art Youth Employment program this summer, 15 have worked with us at least once before and several of them have worked with us 2 to 5 times! We collected some of their thoughts on why they keep coming back.
“I would recommend CAW to anyone looking for a summer job, because even for people who don’t believe they’re the best at doing anything artistic, it’s a good experience to grow new skills and to learn new things. I think it’s also nice to just experience things differently. I think it opens up a new perspective. Sometimes we see the world, but we don’t see it in as many colors or shapes.”
Nur Malik Ruiz Worked on an exterior mural at Brandeis High School Campus last year. This year, she is working on a mural for The WIlliam Lynch School in Washington Heights.
Jonathan Hyman is a veteran of two mural programs and one multi-media program. This year, he is working with the Inwood Oral History Team as a Teaching Artist-Assistant-in-Training.
“I remember starting when I was 18 and thinking, ‘Wow, this is such a cool program!’ And then coming back every year and seeing myself grow professional and personally. I didn’t expect to become a Teaching Artist Assistant-in-Training. What always brings me back to CAW is the idea of leaving an impact on other people through the work that I do. I’m happy that I help other people feel good.”
“I came back for the people. I learned how to work with other people, and I feel like that wasn’t something that I got the chance to do, especially after COVID. CAW gave me a chance to work passionately along with other like-minded people who really wanted to grow and develop together and achieve the same goals. And it was a real success last year, so I just wanted to give it a chance again to see what would happen this year. I think working for CAW, we have structure, but we also have so much freedom, and it’s such a good balance that I haven’t had at other workplaces before. And this was something that just gave people joy in their work. ”
Alison Andrea Martinez worked last year on the oral history project East Harlem: El Barrio Diasporico. This year, she returns to CAW to work with the Inwood Oral History Team.
Max Batista has worked on two previous CAW murals. He returned for his third year in a row and is working on a mural for The WIlliam Lynch School in Washington Heights.
“Coming back to CAW is always a good idea, because it gives you the opportunity to practice your craft, whether you’re an artist or you’re just a sociable person who wants to see some new and old faces. It’s always nice to make some money by doing something you love and by meeting like-minded people.”
“I came back to Creative Art Works for many reasons. I had a lot of fun last year, because I was allowed to express myself artistically. I’ve definitely improved in my drawing skills, and that’s because the Teaching Artists don’t judge. You can be yourself. If you’re bad at drawing, that’s totally fine. It’s all about being creative and what you bring to the table. The Teaching Artists are great, and my coworkers are also great. There’s no judgment, there’s no harassment – it’s all about kindness and respect, and I really appreciate that dynamic.”
Lorenzo Vegara worked on the mural, Girl Wonder, for Brandeis High School Campus last year. He returned this year to work with a team creating two murals for NY State Family Court, Bronx Division.
Creative Art Works' programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Public Art Youth Employment Program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional program funders include the Find Your Light Foundation, the LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, the Office of the Manhattan Borough President, the Ponce de Leon Foundation, and the William Talbot Hillman Foundation.
We are grateful for donations of paint, painting supplies, space, and expertise from these generous supporters:
