Monday, June 15, 1998
Art draws kids into community
The college experience is full of unforgettable memories; every college student encounters unique situations, molded by the variety of recreational activities our campus offers. Some of us become involved in sports and recreation, while others join academic clubs. However, there is another aspect of college life that many forget to include in their store of memories: community involvement.
Many of you might recall seeing the sandwich board signs advertising an array of campus groups that aid our communities. Year after year these signs become ubiquitous to our environment, extending from Bruin Walk to Royce Quad. How many times have you passed by wondering what exactly these relief projects do? Have you ever taken a flyer to inform yourself about getting involved? Many of us yearn to help out in some way, but we either lack time or sufficient information.
As a freshman, part of me wanted to become involved, but I wasn't sure what was right for me. Strolling along Bruin Walk, I bumped into a recruitment fair sponsored by the Community Programs Office. As I read the description of each project, I was attracted to one that promoted the arts in the community. This group was the only one to provide inner-city children with the gift of art while building bridges between their environment and our university. The type of service that the project shared with the community intrigued me, and I decided to help out. Eventually I would become project director for the remainder of my years at UCLA.
I was astounded to discover that Raza Artistas del Pueblo (RAdP) was the only project of its kind, rendering artistic, educational and collaborative projects throughout Los Angeles. For over seven years this organization has made a difference by sponsoring and endowing various socioeconomically-deprived schools with the gift of art.
The relevance of this gift cannot be undermined in any way, especially in lieu of the destitute conditions of the Los Angeles schools that RAdP serves.
It isn't surprising, though, that the arts are overlooked as a crucial element in the intellectual and emotional growth of any child. While some argue that art is a privilege, in reality it is a universal form of expression. Why then does our society overlook the importance of the arts, limiting the programs available to young urban youth? The answer is that our society is unaware of the power that art bestows; it does not realize that, in our hyper-visual society, everything is a work of art.
As an idealistic college freshman, I became passionate about this community project and began volunteering my time. I vowed to change the world. Of course, I would find out that you can't change the world by yourself. Through dedication and collaboration, however, you can make it a better place.
During spring quarter of 1995, I participated in a class that offered credit for community work. This situation marked the turning point of my involvement with Raza Artistas. I eagerly promoted this service project and built bridges between our class and Plaza de la Raza, a non-profit arts center. A group of students began to volunteer as teacher's aides in dance, visual arts, music and theater classes, and my involvement with Raza Artistas would continue to flourish.
Raza Artistas provides the sole creative outlet in the lives of children raised in environments where gang-banging, violence, racial tension and economic strife are the dominant factors of life. This program is essential for nurturing untapped artistic and literary skills that are conducive to the creative expression of their talents, visions and unique life experiences.
Raza Artistas exposes inner-city youth to alternative artistic expressions of themselves and their community while encouraging them to pursue a higher education in the arts or related fields. Working according to these goals, Raza Artistas has expanded its vision to include after school programs, recruitment and cultural events on the UCLA campus.
Directors and volunteers at UCLA also gain much from RAdP. We are an important resource to our community because we keep the vision of our future - the children - alive. By connecting their experiences with the college campus we build bridges we can cross without fear or confusion. Raza Artistas provides a space where our young can interact with our present leaders - you, the college students.
Community involvement is a generous activity. Being intimately involved with this project has taught me that community service is reciprocal. When we give to the community, we receive satisfaction from the knowledge that something good has been accomplished.
Someone once told me that humans, even at their most altruistic moments, perform certain activities for recognition. I beg to differ; I believe that humans at their most altruistic moments perform such activities, not so much for recognition, but rather for meaningful human interaction. To know that one has helped another human being by giving them hope, the ability to dream and the means to make those dreams come true is satisfaction in itself.
Some of us search our entire lives to experience real human interaction, not realizing that our communities welcome us with open arms. You must be willing to take the plunge. When you do, you realize there is a lifetime's worth of work to be done.
Being recognized is just the icing on the cake. I never expected to be recognized for this type of work, nor was it my intention. People say that community involvement looks good on your resume. That might be true, but that should not be the driving force in your commitment to the community. Remember that each one of us is a product of this society, and if we really want to make a positive change we must take the initiative to give back to the communities that have nurtured us.
Receiving the Charles E. Young Humanitarian Award capped off this wonderful community involvement experience. For the past four years, I have taught art classes, directed Raza Artistas and served as a mentor to young teens. I owe much of my intellectual and spiritual growth to this project since it allowed me to experience meaningful human interaction with the UCLA and inner city communities. I cannot imagine my college experience without the active participation in a group such as RAdP.
In retrospective, when I look back at all of my college memories: orientation, dorm food, finals, sports and campus construction, the memory of Raza Artistas will shine the brightest because it has given me more than I could have given it. I will miss being active in the milieu of organization and volunteerism, but I know that this commitment is far from being fulfilled. I leave UCLA knowing that I will come back, as I have done with my community, to continue spreading the joy of art to those who yearn a new form of expression.
I urge all of the graduating seniors to take what you have learned back to your communities. Give today so that tomorrow you can also reap the benefits of your involvement.
To the rest of the undergraduate student body - it's never too late to become involved. Make your mark by helping the community, and you will experience humanity on a different level.