December 18, 2023
Susan Rodgerson, a local Boston painter, founded Artists For Humanity over 32 years ago. This non-profit organization now employs over 370 teens annually and seeks to not only hire, but provide mentorship and a strong sense of community for teens from marginalized areas all over Boston.
With six studios dedicated to painting, photography, video production, creative technology, graphic design and 3D design, the teens have a wide range of specialities to apply for after their first four weeks in the foundations studio where they harness fundamental skills as artists and creatives. The teens are recruited or advised to apply by their schools to AFH and put on a payroll after their first four weeks. They also are given opportunities to make commissions on any artworks they sell, such as during the yearly AFH Holiday Market.
This market invites individuals to browse recent creations and meet the minds behind the artworks. Liam Perrino, 16, has been a teen working at AFH for over two years now and has moved through different studios during his time at the organization. Currently, he works in video production and advertised holiday reels guests could purchase for loved ones. When talking about AFH he says, "It forces you to get out of your comfort zone, which I really appreciate, because for a while I was really locked inside that box…it opened a passion for me."
The mentors play a pivotal role in cultivating the strong sense of community present at AFH. When asked about this strong connection Perrino mentions, "Over the summer I was doing a movie with the video studio mentor… it’d be like one am and he would drive me home everyday." Luis Urena, one of the mentors apart of the painting studio started at Artists For Humanity as a teen himself. He Is still close to his own mentor from when he was a teen and sees him as “an older brother” he says, “I wouldn’t have that connection if I wasn’t here.”
Artists For Humanity advocates for going beyond racial and economic divisions to give young minds the opportunity to foster an understanding of various industries they could potentially be a part of. With a young and fresh perspective, these employees are bringing ideas to clientele that adults are unlikely to bring. When asked about these interactions, Lorraine Johnson, the Director of Marketing and Branding says when the teens get the chance to work with a client, "it's like wow, someone believes in me, I have a voice and I did something and they valued it and they chose it, they chose me. That’s really big when you’re a young person."
New and exciting steps for Artists For Humanity include their recent program that was introduced to New York City in the Summer of 2023. With around twenty teens already, AFH is expanding its sanctuary of creativity and nurturing young minds with the tools necessary to take on the professional world.