THE BLOOMING OF HARLEM
The
Blooming of Harlem Mural Unveiling
Thursday, August 14th 11:00 a.m.
The Jacob Schiff School Auditorium
500 West 138th Street New York, NY 10031
Creative Art Works has painted a new mural stretching more than 170 feet along the 138th Street side of the Jacob Schiff School Campus. The artwork depicts a literal and allegorical representation of the history of the neighborhood. One section shows a tangled landscape of thorns giving way to a wellcared for community garden. This is intended to show how the Harlem Renaissance was born out of municipal neglect, and how many different groups of people worked together over time to reclaim the neighborhood. The far-right end of the mural shows a parade of children that turns into a shadow play of hopes and aspiration before finally returning to the entrance to the school, where dreams may become reality.
From Executive Director Karen Jolicoeur
This summer, CAW hired 135 NYC teens and young adults for our Public Art Youth Employment program and handed them tremendous responsibility. We once again entrusted these Youth Apprentices (YAs) to lend their skills, talents, grit, and humanity to major corporations and public institutions, knowing that they will deliver a stunning work of art. We’ve done this every summer for decades, and we are always inspired—though we can no longer say we are completely surprised—by what they create!
This year, our YAs painted four stunning murals or large-scale paintings. One series of panels offers hope and compassion to visitors in a waiting area at Kings County Family Court. An interior mural creates a welcoming and inclusive teen space in the Grant Houses Cornerstone Center in Morningside Heights. An expansive exterior mural at the Jacob H. Schiff Campus in West Harlem celebrates the local community. Finally, long-time supporter BXP has commissioned an abstract work for its marketing centers; the five canvases, which work together or separately, evoke the natural world and create a welcoming space.
We also assembled two multimedia teams this summer. A team of young graphic artists has designed a welcoming and informative printed guidebook for the five county courthouses within the NYC Family Court system. At the same time, a crew of young filmmakers produced a compelling and moving portrait of some of the many kinds of artists who call West Harlem home.
What our teams produced this summer is nothing short of remarkable. Of course, it's true that our staff and Teaching Artists set our YAs up for success with instruction, mentorship, encouragement, and support. Still, we never lose sight of what our young people bring to the table: their boundless capacity to contribute, to lead, and to enrich their communities through their fresh perspective and authentic expression.
Their extraordinary accomplishments serve as a powerful testament to the boundless potential residing within our youth. We hope you share our deep sense of optimism as we look forward to a future shaped by their talent and vision.
Yours sincerely,
Karen Jolicoeur Executive Director
Amaia Batista was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 2006, and moved to New York City with her mother at 15 years old. She studied at High School for Media & Communications in the George Washington Campus building, and graduated as the salutatorian in 2024. Amaia is currently studying at Hunter College as a lower freshman. She is thinking of majoring in English. This year is the first year that she’s working at Creative Art Works. Amaia has always been passionate about drawing, coloring and reading books, and she wishes to be a creative writer and illustrator.
AMAIA
Ambar Valdez-Lopez is an 18-yearold alternative artist. He’s a Mexican American born and raised in The Bronx. He expresses himself in various ways such as makeup, fashion, and other forms of self-expression. Outside of work and school, he does theater as part of queer creative expression. Theater is a newfound form of art that he enjoys and has brought him out of his shell. This is his first year with CAW. This project has been inspiring, as the idea of working on a community art piece feels fulfilling for him. His goal for the summer is to submerge himself with art.
Angelica Maldonado is a returning Youth Apprentice who worked on the mural for Bronx Family Court last summer. She was born and raised in the boogie down Bronx. She is currently a Junior attending Lehman college striving for a bachelor’s degree in communications. She takes art classes as electives in school when she can. Her experience at Creative Art Works has helped her develop skills that she applies to her own art. She enjoys drawing animals and using a colorful palette for her paintings. After the program, it’s straight back into her studies.
ANGELICA AVERY
Avery Cabassa just turned 20 and will be starting her 3rd year of college at the end of august. She lives in the Bronx and goes to college at City Tech in Brooklyn and is currently studying to become a nurse. After the fall semester she will officially be done with all her prerequisites and is very excited to finally start her clinicals. This is her second year working for Creative Art Works, and she couldn’t be happier to be back. Last year her team created a piece so beautiful it inspired her to come back and make others feel just as proud of themselves as she did last year.
CARMEN
Carmen M. Avila lives in the Bronx and is a rising senior who attends Family Life Academy Charter High School. This is her first time working for Creative Art Works. In her free time she likes to draw and bake cookies while listening to music. When she was younger, her dream was to become a famous cook, but now it’s to join the military and become a nurse. She strives to be able to help those around her and give them guidance. Art helps her communicate in a way where it feels safe to be herself and to have a voice.
Casey Gjini is an 18-year-old living in The Bronx. She recently graduated from Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy High School and will be attending City College. Some activities she has been involved in include track, cross country, and playing piano. In her free time she likes to sketch and paint. She is an aspiring architect who hopes to create safe spaces for communities around the world. This is her first job with Creative Art Works, and through this she has gained communication and design skills that will support her in her professional career.
Christian Toro is 23 years old. He was born and raised in the Bronx, and he goes to Lehman College. This is his third time working with Creative Arts Works, previously he worked on murals in Harlem and Bronx Court. He is good at art, writing, researching, and photography. The thing he loves to do the most is trying new things—it keeps him motivated and exploring more in life. He spends most of his time talking about anime and especially cartoons. He usually feels good when he is watching movies or when he is going out and doing something that keeps his mind busy. The thing he likes about this summer job is learning new skills through art activities and how it grows his imagination. Christian enjoyed his experience this summer and he is excited to get out of his comfort zone.
CHRISTIAN
ELENA
Elena Espinosa is 18 years old and currently lives in The Bronx. She recently graduated from Urban Assembly Maker Academy High School, and is going to DCC college in upstate New York. She wants to pursue a career in teaching and/or become a writer for a fashion magazine. Her hobbies consist of thrifting, reading novels about mental health, and making jewelry. This is Elena’s first time working at Creative Art Works, and she’s super excited to bring the community together with the mural. Her experience with being on her school’s fashion club and girls club, as well as being on student council, gives her a sense of how to portray what a true community is to West Harlem.
ELIANA
Eliana Monegro is a 21-year-old Dominican artist from Washington Heights. This is her first year working with CAW. She hopes to showcase her painting and illustration skills. She recently graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s in psychology, with an interest in combining art with storytelling. In her work, she is most interested in exploring interpersonal relationships, the human psyche, and the environment. She enjoys reading graphic novels and books. Her favorite genres are drama, action, romance, and psychological horror. She is a mostly self-taught artist who eventually wants to publish her own graphic novel.
EMMANUEL
Emmanuel Mendez Perez was born in Manhattan and raised in The Bronx. He recently graduated from In-tech academy high school in the Bronx. This is the first time Emmanuel ever worked with Creative Art Works, and he is willing to help out in any way. He is a rising freshman at Bronx Community College, studying biology. In his free time, he likes to practice playing guitar, work out, and practice speaking Japanese, Greek and German. Emmanuel always has fun drawing and interacting with people at CAW.
JAIDEN
Jaiden Robinson, 19-year-old Bronx native. Graduated class of 2023 from New Visions Charter High school for the Humanities. This is Jaiden’s first time working with CAW. He went into this job with full ambition, due to his artistic background. He specializes in both traditional and digital art mediums. Those include pencil illustration, charcoal art, digital painting, traditional painting, and 3D modeling. His love for art began at the ripe age of 4, when he was introduced to origami via a YouTube recommendation. Since then, he has embarked on the journey of exploring more mediums.
JANIYA
Janiya M. Miller is a 17-year-old student and hairstylist who aspires to become a nurse. This is her first time working on a CAW project and with public art murals. Originally from Harlem, she has moved to many areas and in the process, she gained knowledge from each place, such as making connections and being more open. The CAW program has not only reminded her about being in gifted and talented programs that taught her about many arts, but also her craft in hair and that being a hairstylist is its own form of artistry. CAW expanded her horizons for art overall.
Back Row (standing): Emmanuel Mendez, Widalis Marie Burgos, Nyanne Clemeston, Sophia Jaiden Robinson, Lorenzo Vergara, Eliana Monegro, Max Batista, Wilson Batista, Amaia Batista
Front Row (seated): Christian Toro, Kaylin Williams, Truzion Harris Cadet, Sanjida Mou, Teaching Angelica Maldonado, Teaching Artist Assitant-in-Training Micaela Jimenez, Tahqari Koonce, Josephine
Zorrilla, Janiya Miller, Carmen Avila, Avery Cabassa, Jaylene Arroyo, Ambar Valdez-Lopez, Batista
Teaching Artist Noga Cohen, Teaching Artist Assistant Yotzin Ryes, Teaching Artist Abby Walsh, Josephine Geneste
JAYLENE
Jaylene Arroyo is a rising senior who attends Family Life Academy Charter High School in the Bronx. This is her first time working with Creative Art Works. In her free time, she loves to draw, listen to music, and spend time with friends. She is a passionate and creative individual who loves expressing ideas through art. She enjoys working with others and learning new techniques, and she’s an open-minded individual who is always willing to learn something new. She has good grades and is even in the National Honor Society. Going forward she is interested in exploring her career options.
JOSEPHINE
Josephine N. Geneste is from Queens, NY. She is a 17-year-old student who has always had a deep connection to art. Whether it was digital art, performing arts, sewing, fashion, or cosplay, art has always had an impact on her life. Creative Art Works is her first job opportunity, and it has been a great outlet to show her creativity in a professional setting. To Josephine, CAW is an exciting way to learn new skills, new forms of art, and engage with different communities within the city.
Kaitlin Evans is currently enrolled to be an upcoming freshman at BCC to get her associate’s in accounting and financial economics, then transfer to a four-year college for her bachelor’s. She hails from the West Bronx, where she was born and raised. She is a recent graduate of Health and Opportunities High School. Her career aspiration is to become a federal judge or a “Finance Bro.” She does have one thing she truly enjoys, pets. She spent time working at a no-kill pet shelter for SYEP called Petlife Shelter. She enjoyed the company and care of the animals. Her hobbies include cooking, baking, crocheting, and spending time by herself watching anime.
KAITLIN
KAYLIN
Kaylin Williams is 23 years old, born and raised in the Bronx. She was always interested in art and science of all forms. Although she aspired to be a biochemist, she was always more invested in anything related to the arts. She started with traditional and digital art. She soon moved to animation, 3D animation, 3D modeling, and sculpting. Kaylin has worked with CAW previously, this being the 3rd year. In being involved in this year’s mural, she is hoping to reach higher and become a more noticeable figure in the arts.
KAZ
LORENZO
This is Lorenzo Vergara. He is 18 and recently graduated high school. He is from Riverdale, The Bronx. This is his third year as a youth apprentice at CAW. He previously worked on “Girl Wonder” at Brandeis High School (2023) and “Rays of Hope” at Bronx Family Court (2024). He always finds different ways to be creative whether that’s working on the murals or making films. He aspires to be a filmmaker. Lorenzo isn’t great at drawing, but that doesn’t stop him from partaking in CAW’s mural projects while making friends and having a good time creating something special.
Kaz Wilks was born and raised in Harlem. With his high school days behind him, and his CTE certification and skills to digital design and animation just lingering in his brain, he had to put it to use eventually. However, this isn’t Kaz’s first time with Creative Art Works; with the two character design internships he did at his school, he’s technically a professional. He re-created the “IGOR” album cover in his own style. Whenever Kaz isn’t busy running errands, or picking up his little brother, he’s probably listening to music, having fun with his friends, or just playing on the game. He’s always ahead of everything. The best thing about working with CAW is getting to know all the new people he has met.
MAX
Max Batista is coming into the summer of 2025 with CAW as a YA for his 4th year, with hopes of sticking around for the long run. At age 23, Max has been looking to expand his audience so that more people can relate to his art that covers usually overlooked subjects. Having lived around a big family and being a Harlem native, he has a really good sense of community and involvement as well as how to reach out to and connect with others. Max has the final goal to be a relevant figure who represents those who feel too vulnerable or unheard to speak out.
MELIA
Melia Santana attends Mott Haven Village Preparatory High school. She grew up in The Bronx, but recently moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Since she was a little girl she’s been into painting and drawing. She comes from an Hispanic household; both of her parents immigrated to the U.S. looking for better opportunities. Her mother helps her buy her painting supplies and supports her passion in painting. Melia’s passion for art inspired her to enroll in an artistic program for the summer.
NATHALY
Nathaly Ramirez was born and raised in the Bronx. She is 21 years old and this is her first time working with CAW. She loves art, mainly animation, such as anime and cartoons. She was surrounded by art growing up. Her father was covered in tattoos, and she always wished to have some of her own. She loves to be with her extended family and going out or playing games.
NYANNE
Nyanne Clemetson is a rising senior at Columbia Secondary School from Harlem, New York. This is her first time working at Creative Art Works. She is excited to be a part of a project that will impact the community. Nyanne has explored many creative outlets throughout her life from sports and music to art. While she doesn’t specialize in one area of art, her creativity and ability to do a little bit of everything makes her unique. She runs track and hopes to become a physician, using her creative mindset to help others.
SOPHIA
SANJIDA
Born in the Bronx and living in East Harlem, Sanjida Mou is an incoming college freshman at NYU. As a Bengali American, she takes as much pride in her culture as she does her hobbies. From art, crafting, gardening, and jiu jitsu, she’s always ready to expand her various skills. After working at Creative Art Works last summer, she’s confident in her abilities and came back to contribute her creativity to the community. With her passion, she’s ready to explore majors in STEM and art at college. Wherever she ends up, she’ll be ready to tackle the world.
Sophia Zorrilla was born and raised in Manhattan. She is 19 years old. This is her fourth year working with Creative Art Works. She spends her time playing Roblox Flee the Facility, MM2, and Cookie Run Kingdom. She enjoys learning languages such as Japanese, Greek, Korean, French, German, and Spanish. She really likes watching anime and reading manga and is currently reading Blue Lock. She also enjoys listening to music of all genres. The best part of this job is getting Friday off but also doing what she loves, which is making art and getting paid. Sophia enjoyed her experience this summer with CAW.
TAHQARI TRUZION
Tahqari Koonce is a 19-year-old student attending their sophomore year at Purchase College studying screenwriting. This is Tahqari’s first time with Creative Art Works, but not his first time on a collaborative project. CAW is also not his first job; he worked at a Pharmacy the year prior. When not making art, Tahqari usually indulges in fictional media such as anime and manga or other forms of media for inspiration. Tahqari believes that creativity allows for limitless options in life. The career Tahqari wishes to pursue is a scriptwriter, inspiring others and creating an impact through creativity and various other forms of art that he can create.
Truzion Harris Cadet is a rising junior at Rhode Island School of Design. Her major is illustration, however she is interested in child development and art as a mental health outlet. This is her first time working with Creative Art Works, and she has always wanted to paint a mural. She is originally from Queens but has relocated to The Bronx. She has previously interned at the Guggenheim Museum as a curator and has acted as a wood-shop monitor for freshmen in her college. There is room for improvement in her perspective skills, however she feels fairly advanced in her ability to render. She is a huge bookworm. Her personal recommendations are “Sula” by Toni Morrison and the “Song of Ice and Fire” series by George R.R. Martin.
WILSON
Wilson Batista is a 24-year-old male working with CAW for the second time. He is happy and excited to be back to help create amazing art formed by everyone around him. He enjoys seeing familiar faces and reconnecting with them. He chose to do this again because he enjoys the communication and seeing everyone express themselves in their own way. Wilson is without a question an outgoing person and really enjoys working with others. He believes that if people communicate more, people can without a doubt come together. His hobbies are going outside and hanging out with people or just being at home gaming or watching shows.
Widalis Marie Burgos is a rising high school junior, attending Dana Hall School as a domestic boarding student. Widalis aspires to become a writer and English educator. She’s deeply passionate about literature. She’s frequently involved in written works, as she’s mostly known for her creative stories and personal memoirs. She believes that art was a significant factor that inspired her to pursue writing. CAW helped Widalis get more involved in the community and explore her creativity. CAW is her first job, and Widalis hopes to learn more about how collaboration in art tells a story throughout her first year experience.
Noga Cohen is New York-based multidisciplinary artist and educator working in sculpture, installation art, and drawing. She is the Artist in Residency at ProjectArt for 2023-24, and was the recipient of the Immigrant Artists Program Fellowship of NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts) for 2021-22. Noga moved to New York in 2019 and earned her MFA in visual arts from Columbia University in 2021. While completing her MFA, she won the David Berg Foundation Fellowship, the Artist Contemporary Fellowship, and the BrevoortEickemeyer Fellowship. In 2018, she received the Gross Foundation Prize, the Adams Prize, and the SBY grant for emerging artists. Her work has been included in venues such as The Jewish Museum (New York), The Border Project Gallery (Brooklyn, New York), Amos Eno Gallery (Brooklyn), ChaShaMa (New York), Wallach Gallery (New York), Project V Gallery (New York), the Art Lab (Tel Aviv), and more.
NOGA
TEACHING ARTIST
YOTZIN
TEACHING ARTIST ASSISTANT
Yotzin Reyes, born and raised in the Bronx, NY, was first introduced to Creative Art Works through the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program, joining as a Youth Apprentice in the summer of 2023. That summer, he collaborated with fellow Youth Apprentices on two public murals: Girl Wonder at Brandeis High School and Kaleidoscope at the new North American headquarters of BDO. In 2024, Yotzin returned as a Teaching Artist Assistant-in-Training, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship from seasoned Teaching Artists.
In summer 2025, Yotzin stepped into a new role as a Teaching Artist Assistant. He strives to keep learning and growing as he takes on more leadership responsibilities within CAW. Through the program, Yotzin has not only sharpened his technical art skills but also built confidence, leadership experience and a deeper connection to his community. When he’s not supporting youth, Yotzin explores photography as a personal way to tell stories and see the world from new perspectives.
TEACHING ARTIST
ABBY MICAELA
Abby Walsh is a Teaching Artist living in NYC where she has been collaborating with students in all five boroughs since 2019. She began her teaching career leading the creation of large murals, but since then, she has expanded her work with youth collaborators to include graphic novels, stop motion films, character and game design, and a wide variety of other art and experiential media. In previous incarnations, Abby spent time as an Ironworker for the Department of Education; an art director/production designer for the film industry; an illustrator; and a head carpenter for institutions such as the Park Avenue Armory, supervising massive steelbased installations and other kinds of largescale projects. She has worked with art world heavyweights such as Marina Abramovich, Robert Wilson, Michael Van Der A, Taryn Simon, and Nick Cave. Helping professional artists manifest their visions has been a rich experience that helped Abby develop her own creative voice, but nothing has meant as much to her, nor nourished her as deeply, as the welders, warehouse workers, labor crews, and carpenters that have supported every facet of expression that she has thrown herself into.
Queens native Micaela Jimenez joined Creative Art Works for her first summer Public Art Youth Employment season in 2024, working with a team of Youth Apprentices painting murals for Queens County Family Court. She has previously worked as a volunteer for Groundswell and as an SYEP intern at Al Oerter Recreation Center in Queens. She has been passionate about art her entire life. Her practice includes digital and traditional illustration, painting, and collage. Micaela is pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology at Hunter College. In her free time, she caters to the demands of Layla, her Borican mixed-breed dog, and Levi, her American mixed breed dog.
TEACHING ARTIST ASSISTANT-INTRAINING
About the Public Art Youth Employment
Program
Public Art Youth Employment Programs give teens and young adults full-time summer jobs and part-time jobs after school to create large-scale public art and multimedia projects. Youth Apprentices are guided by professional teaching artists from the initial concept development through client presentation, to the final edit and public unveiling or premiere. Along the way, they gain tangible employment and life skills such as leadership, teamwork, responsibility and the power of taking initiative. They are empowered by the enduring accomplishment in their work of art and its positive impact on the community.
About Creative Art Works
Creative Art Works (CAW) is a 39-year-old nonprofit that empowers young people through the visual and multimedia arts. Our programs equip children, teens, and young adults with essential tools and skills; connect them with community, academic success, and career opportunities; and inspire them to reach for new possibilities. Working in underserved neighborhoods of New York City, in public schools, recreation centers, foster care facilities, parks, juvenile justice settings, and in the remote environment, CAW provides dynamic creative youth development for those who otherwise lack access. Our programs build confidence, unlock a love of learning, and teach valuable technical and socialemotional skills while creating profound connections between our young constituents, their art and their communities. www.creativeartworks.org
SUPPORTERS
PARTNERS
Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation
Creative Art Works’ 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.
Creative Art Works’ programming is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
