WestSide StoryArt Collaborative

The WestSide StoryArt Collaborative is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting storytelling through the arts among middle-grade youth. It operates in Central Ohio, focusing on empowering young people to express themselves creatively and foster community engagement.

Mission and Activities

The organization's mission is based on the belief that everyone is a storyteller, and it achieves this by pairing community-based artist-mentors with youth in grades 4-8. This approach encourages new risk-taking and discoveries, leveraging art forms to highlight community strengths and ingenuity.

Approach to Storytelling

Youth involved in the program create stories and artwork that reflect their communities, often addressing themes such as justice, collective action, anti-bullying, and diverse identities. The collaborative aims to shift the narrative about marginalized communities from one of deficits to possibilities and hope, making these stories visible to a broader audience.

Impact

Through StoryArt performances and exhibits, the collaborative brings adults and youth together to recognize and support young voices. This community-oriented approach fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of youth perspectives, contributing to positive community change.

[1] https://westsidestoryartcollaborative.org [2] https://westsidestoryartcollaborative.org/whystorytelling [3] https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-p191-pub.pdf [4] https://www.westsidetogether.org/blank-page [5] https://www.wsco.org/orientation