York arts group aims to build cultural bridges
Inclusive Arts will strive to break York's cultural barriers through creativity and youth outreach.
Richard Craighead wants to broaden inner city kids' horizons, to show them what their futures could hold.
The 28-year-old wants to reach youth through Inclusive Arts, a program he co-founded with Warren Twyman and Dwayne Carey. Their collective goal is to show York kids their potential.
"We want kids to be inquisitive about their outer limits," said Craighead, of York.
Launched a few months ago, the program aims to connect cultures through art. It's a way for Craighead, Carey and Twyman to build relationships with kids, showing them different ways to make money and to stay off the streets, Craighead said.
He, Twyman and Carey met coincidentally and had similar concepts about how to improve York.
Each of the three men, all in their 20s, bring different skills to the table. Carey, originally from Brooklyn, New York, and Craighead, a William Penn grad, work in construction. Twyman, who grew up in Coatesville, is a graphic designer.
Inclusive Arts, which has its own public Facebook group, got rolling with plans to get free haircuts for kids, offer mentorships and help young people map out their path to adulthood. College isn't the best option for everyone. The city needs plumbers and electricians too, Twyman said.
But if kids want to go to college, what do they want to study or become?
"We want you to follow your dreams, but know what you're following," Craighead said.
With the right information and leadership, people have the power to change their future, Twyman said.
But it's a process.
"Form follows function," he said.
Inclusive Arts plans to spur kids forging their own paths in a civil manner while teaching them how to properly communicate and present their ideas. Connecting with city schools, nonprofits and even the city police department will help Inclusive Arts reach the younger demographic.
Craighead talked about a program in some cities where cops meet informally with citizens at coffee shops. It helps youth interact with police so the community knows the cops and cops know the community, he said.
"That would create more Officer Friendlies and bring it back to a small town where the sheriff knew everybody, knew their situations and could deal with things so we don't have so many incidents," Craighead said.
Craighead, whose mother worked for Americorps, said he has always aspired to work with the community. Now he's putting that in motion with Twyman, Carey and whoever else can help them.
Connecting cultures
One local artist believes Inclusive Arts will help open the city's cultural and arts market.
There has been a lot of momentum for the local arts community, but part of the city's population is missing out on it, said Ophelia Chambliss, a nationally renowned painter based in Manchester Township who does a lot of work in the city.
Chambliss sometimes finds herself as the only person of color at gallery events in York. There are many people who could be participating in the events, but some lack the information or don't feel invited, she said.
And it's not that people running the events don't want certain people there, Chambliss explained. "They don't have the connections that make people aware that these things are happening."
Craighead, Carey and Twyman hope to create a more inclusive environment, Chambliss said.
It's something York needs, said Clifton Santiago, a York sculptor who is trying to merge the city's cultural communities.
He said two different cultural celebrations happened simultaneously at opposite ends of York. Santiago rode between Farquhar Park and Immaculate Conception Church on his motorcycle. "This is nuts," he recalled thinking at the time. "This should be one big event with all different nationalities. I would love to see it change so we could get more crossover."
Getting people together, Santiago said, is a slow-moving process.
Events targeting thought-provoking conversation and different art forms will cultivate creativity, Craighead explained.
"Our main focus is to cultivate creativity while bringing the essence of community back to our neighborhoods," he said.
Serving young men
The program might look like a boys version of YAYA Girls, an after-school program to help girls grow into better community members. At those events, YAYA co-founder Marisa Wilson is commonly asked if anything will be available for boys.
Wilson met Craighead and his group at an art auction, where they began talking about apprenticeships for boys interested in working at barbershops and for girls at salons.
She plans to allow Inclusive Arts to use her West Market Street shop, Beneath The Surface Salon, for meetings and youth events. And she's connected them with her husband, Durvel Wilson, who has experience working with at-risk youth.
"Some things don't take that much effort," Wilson said of helping kids. "Let's roll up our sleeves, use our own resources, and let's do it."
Contact Mark Walters at 771-2032 or follow him on Twitter at @walt_walters.