Impact Network Monthly Vol. 10
December 2011
"Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. "
-- Maya Angelou
Poll of the Month
Video Clip of the Month
How do you use arts in your
life? We want to know!
Social Media
We invite you to follow our
Twitter feed, Facebook
page and YouTube channel
to stay up to date on the
work of America's Promise
and related news.
Words of Wisdom - Thomas Alvarez
Growing up as a teen, I struggled with
developing a positive identity. Unlike
many of my peers, I was shy and
introspective. I lacked confidence and
self-esteem. There weren't many places
where I felt I could be myself, free from
judgment and without the constant
pressure of having to "fit in." Fortunately
for me, I found Hip Hop. It was through
Hip Hop that I learned to develop my
voice and build a positive peer group.
Hip Hop taught me about myself, the
world around me, and provided a
channel for creative expression. read
more
Impact Scale - How can YOU make a difference?
Right Now

Think of creative ideas to employ arts to make your
and/or others' lives better.
One Day

Find out information about your school's NAHS,
Thespians or music group; if they are active clubs, JOIN!
These groups often offer many opportunities to show off
your talent around the school and community. You'll
meet a lot of friends who share the same interests and build your confidence about your
abilities.
Regular Commitment
The possibilities are endless. The bottom line is: make arts a part of your everyday life!
 If you are in various arts clubs, keep it up!
 Audition for a local youth symphony
 Get your friends together and paint a mural (with permission of course)
 Join a Habitat for Humanity chapter (always in need of creative artists for home projects)
 Visit local art shows
 Submit to Teen Ink
 Go to many concerts
 Start your own band
 Write and compose songs
Internship

Many art museums offer internships over the summer. Theatre troupes often need ushers
and volunteers. Opportunities at the Smithsonian or national art museums are awesome,
but difficult to obtain; you can always try places more local. Interaction with the
professional art world is the key to new knowledge in the arts.
Career

When thinking about your future, definitely keep majors that involve the arts in mind! A
lot of liberal arts colleges offer many options for all kinds of artists: music, photography,
performing arts, sculpture, fine arts, etc. Arts make people happy! Become an artist to
comfort, to excite and to inspire!
Why?

If you are passionate about the arts, put that zeal to good use! Studies show that drawing
naturally relaxes people, and teens who play musical instruments have a greater chance of
succeeding in school. Using arts to express your emotions, and better yet, to give back to
the community will prove to be enjoyable yet valuable experiences.
Youth Profile in Action - Amanda Geiger
I discovered my passion for art at the colorful age of four. With
homemade necklaces draped around my neck and paint caked in
my hair, I delved into every artistic project with enthusiasm.
Whether I was drawing with crayons, stringing beads, or painting
pottery, I was happy. Throughout my childhood, my mom
encouraged me to freely experiment with art. Although she was
an experienced artist, she never told me how to knead the clay
or what colors to use. This freedom to create allowed me to
freely express myself. read more
Youth Profile in Action - Illusion Theatre
It had been five years since I last met Sue Letheby and had the
privilege of experiencing the amazing work of Illusion Theatre, a
high school student performance company in Lincoln, NE, that
creates impactful performances while tackling tough social
issues. It only took five minutes of hearing the students' passion
to remind me of what made this group so inspiring five years
ago. The cast carries important messages, such as sexual abuse
and bullying prevention, to schools across Nebraska. read more
Editor's Note
We are all artists. We burst into song in expected and
unexpected moments; we paint images on paper and in our
minds to express our sentiments; we take pictures of all things
unique and beautiful; we keep the slate in our heart open so we
can write down the multifarious rhythms of our way of life and
sketch out the vibrant shapes of our many feelings. In times
when we are motivated and cheerful, we use arts for enjoyment
and leisure; when we are stressed, we use arts to relieve and
calm ourselves. read more
Other Cool Things
Check out some other cool things!
 The annual PTA Reflections program is a great awards
program for talented artists; start working on your
entries now! The theme this year is "Diversity Means..."
Visit www.pta.org/2032.asp for more information.
 Also check out
www.theheartproject.org/htmls/index_pro.html. This
art program was started to prevent teen dropouts in Los
Angeles. Put your passion for the arts into volunteering
with such programs in your community!
 Be a part of something BIG and get your voice heard! Apply to attend the "Building a Grad
Nation Summit" in Washington, DC, March 2012! We're even covering ALL COSTS for 50
great candidates! Click this link to apply.
About Impact Network
The Impact Network, an alliance of young leaders from across the nation, unites and empowers youth to take action
through and with the support of Alliance partners to address the challenges facing their communities. Impact Network
members are crucial contributors to the principal goal of America's Promise Alliance--leveraging the Five Promises
framework to help America's most disadvantaged youth and contributing to the Grad Nation campaign.