Youth from the Janus Youth Organization safe house for sex-trafficked and sexually-exploited children will participate in the Overlook mural project on multiple occasions.
They will engage the project as interactive field trips; joining the other youth (Overlook Mural Project Youth Artist Team) in carefully planned activities.
The population, being severely traumatized is volatile; a long term project where consistent performance is necessary is not sustainable. Engaging the kids on day trips to “design workshops” and painting parties is doable for kids, Janus staff and the integrity of the project.
Layna Lewis, Viva La Free’s Founding Director, and project lead has been teaching Art pro-bono at the safe house weekly for more than two and a half years. Viva La Free brings the transformative healing power of art to our most vulnerable, underrepresented populations.
While 85 percent of Viva la Free’s work is with sex trafficked children they also provide services to addiction affected populations, veterans, women, LBGTQIA, teen parents, and underserved populations who are most affected by inequities and trauma.
The four youth who will comprise the Youth Artist Team are all children of color, Native American, African American and Latina. Despite their talent, performance and quality of their character, they are not afforded the same opportunities as other children due to systemic oppression that affects children of color disproportionately. Children of color also are most vulnerable and most disproportionately affected by sex trafficking, sexual violence, domestic abuse, police brutality, imprisonment.
Viva La Free is committed to active engagement both downstream and upstream. Preventative measures pay forward and encourage sustainability.
The Overlook Mural Project sponsored by Viva La Free and OKNA is creating strong leadership and community stewards whose experience in the Overlook mural project will benefit Janus Youth themselves and our community at large.
Viva La Free, OKNA, NPNS and our sponsors are doing a small part to show our commitment to anti-racist action by actively and intentionally dismantling inequity; by providing Youth Artist paid internships. The youth experience being supported as professionals, as valued community members providing a service and products that enrich our neighborhoods.
This opportunity at this vital stage in their development encourages and supports their autonomy, agency and capacity to be viable community organizers who actively engage our most vulnerable populations and the many diverse organizations and individuals throughout our communities.
— Layna Lewis