N4N: Art Center Offers Creative Outlet For Inner City Children

MIAMI (CBS4) - In one of South Florida's toughest neighborhoods, an arts program and its young participants are flourishing.

"Our kids are coming from drastically dramatic backgrounds, just from the environment they live in, the extreme poverty, I mean, this is third world poverty in our backyard that's happening here," explained Soralee Ayvar, the Operations Director at Art Studio Miami.

Art Studio Miami is a safe haven for some of our community's most vulnerable.

"Everyone knows what we do and that we are a great place to be a safe place for kids and also a really character building and empowering place for kids," Ayvar explained to CBS4's Nicole Maristany.

Empowering kids and their families, that's how Neighbors 4 Neighbors first met the team at Art Studio, when they were advocating for a family they were trying to help during a crisis.

Day to day, the studio takes a creative approach to reconnecting with the community of Little Haiti.

"Were using art as a tool for learning, as a tool for inspiration," said Founder Rachel Hughes.

For four years, dozens of children ages 8 to 18 have come to the studio to learn all about art, but they end up leaving with so much more.

"At the end of the day, they're still going home to really rough situations and our goal is to give them the tools to be able to cope with it, to be able to overcome it, and become successful within their own lives," explained Ayver.

Art Studio Miami relies on volunteers to run programs throughout the year, but summer is especially challenging.

"Summer is really difficult; the kids have nowhere else to go. This is, statistically speaking, one of the highest times where they do get into trouble," said Ayver.

There are a variety of ways the community at large can get involved.

"Anyone can come in, they can volunteer, they can donate supplies, they can do a workshop, they can work directly with the kids, they can work behind the scenes," explained Hughes.

To get involved with ArtStudio Miami, call Neighbors 4 Neighbors at (305) 597-4404 or visit www.ArtStudioMiami.org.