Our Mission
Our vision is to become a leading advocate for countering educational disparities in exploration by making the arts accessible to every student. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where youth can develop their artistic abilities and share their stories to add new perspectives and energy in the communities we live in.
Our Story
LaGuardia's Equitable Arts Program was founded by Inis Chen & Zahrah Kaikini with the premise of accessibility. We saw firsthand the privilege of attending a school that values both academics and the arts. However, many public schools do not have the funding to have extensive arts programs, leading them to be underfunded or cut entirely. We created this program to share the opportunities we have had with students across New York City to ensure that everyone can discover the role that art can have in their lives. By learning their stories and empowering their voices, we see the importance of expanding this program further.
Our Impact
In pursuit of our mission, we've reached students across New York City by distributing over 2,000 sketchbooks as a tool to begin their artistic journey. From decorating the covers with aspirations to making cards for children in hospitals, we encourage creativity that teaches students to dream big. Our impact shows that art doesn't require expensive materials; creativity can be developed with a piece of paper and pencil.