During a time when activism and social awareness have become stronger than ever among youth, we are starting to see more and more people using their creative talents or strengths to give aid or support to important organizations or movements.
One example of this would be teens using their artistic talents to fund donations to Black Lives Matter or other social justice outlets. Ava Gabriel(12) has been using her free time to sell her art, including paintings on clothes, soda bottles, shoes, and canvases, as well as traditional drawings. 100% of the proceeds are donated to an organization of the customer’s choice, as long as it is an organization that focuses on important civil rights issues.
“I decided to do this because I was looking for a way to make a change — even if it was a very small one — with the resources I had available to me. I would be making art anyway, so might as well give it a purpose,” said the senior. (Full disclosure: Ava is the writer’s sister).
Donations from these art pieces went to organizations such as “Integrate NYC,” a youth-led organization that focuses on equity and justice in school systems, “Black Table Arts,” which focuses on unifying black communities through art, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
This way of donating is extremely helpful if you’re looking for a way to participate in supporting important causes. It’s easy, it’s quick, and you’ll also get a unique and cool art piece in return.
Yasmine Kaki (12), one of Ava’s customers, said, “She was very proactive in getting my input and keeping me updated on the process and making sure that I liked the painting. She did a wonderful job with the painting and I’m really happy with it! I was satisfied as someone commissioning art because it turned out great but especially so because it was to a good cause.”
Make sure to message Ava on instagram at @ava.r.gabriel if you want to make a helpful donation and add a new piece of eccentric art to your collection!
