The Fulton County Board of Health’s Skills Knowledge and Youth Empowerment Program (SKYE) recently celebrated the artistic achievements of some of Fulton County’s most creative youth through an engaging art competition. Designed as a teen pregnancy prevention initiative, SKYE employs a youth engagement strategy that honors and amplifies young people’s perspectives while fostering meaningful adult-youth partnerships in an environment where youth feel safe, respected, and valued.
In collaboration with the Black Art in America Gallery—a prominent local, Black-owned art gallery—SKYE provided students from Title I schools in Atlanta with a unique opportunity for self-expression. Participants crafted artwork centered on themes such as mental health, healthy relationships, social and emotional well-being, and other pressing health issues that resonate with them.
Winners were announced in four categories, including Best in Show, during the gallery walk held on March 6 at Frederick Douglass High School in southwest Atlanta. All 25 pieces from the competition were displayed at the Black Art in America Gallery in a three-day showcase open to the public from March 13-15, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Executive Director of the gallery.
Following the exhibition, a closing reception took place on March 15 in East Point, providing an opportunity to further celebrate the youth’s creative efforts. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, there was excitement about the prospect of additional collaborations to promote mental health awareness, allowing the youth’s artwork to contribute to ongoing community efforts focused on this important issue. The event not only highlighted the talents of young artists but also reinforced the SKYE program’s commitment to empowering youth voices and fostering connections within the community. For pictures from the latest event click here.