Reflecting on the relationship between art and agency with TRIO Upward Bound.
I (Jaer) am beyond excited to have partnered with TRIO Upward Bound to teach 6-weeks of an art class based on the theme “Elevate Your Voice.”
TRIO Upward Bound is a college preparatory program hosted at Hope College. The program brings together students from various school districts in the area such as Holland Public, West Ottawa, and Fennville Public. Although our session was directly after lunch (as the various kiddos walking in with ice cream cones reminded me each week), the students were always full of energy (and food).
A big theme we explored was the relationship between art and agency. On a fundamental level, crafting something uniquely yours can offer a sense of independence, satisfaction, and ultimately, a voice. So often our teenagers are subjected to heavy loads of homework and testing, which leaves little room for the exploration of their own personality. They are not merely defined by a grade or GPA or intended career path, but by something more.
It was amazing to see various students continuously work on designs and explore new themes / mediums throughout the summer. A specific student mentioned that the afternoon artmaking was a highlight of the otherwise very intensive program (imagine 6-hours of college prep a day + homework in the summer!) Another student commented that art has always been a passion of his but due to the extra workload of Advance Placement / Early College requirements, he was simply not able to take any art classes.
As we all worked together, what shined through was a sense of belonging and support. Students were quick to encourage one another to take creative risks and try new techniques. This encouragement extended to shared struggles and teenage dilemmas they experience (homework, relationships, car breaking down at Taco Bell, etc). It became clear to me that “Elevate Your Voice” meant not only working on one’s singular voice, but encouraging others to also explore what makes them unique–an insight I shared with the class on the final day.
Our culminating project is very emblematic of that revelation. At the start of the course the TRIO students tried their hand at landscape drawing. From those drawings, we (I should say Miranda and Emily) combined elements from each student’s piece to create a linocut landscape. The final print was on display at TRIO Live, the end-of-semester celebration for the students’ friends and family members. The collaborative print is an example of the beauty and powerful nature of communal artmaking–and how by making art our students can become empowered to support one another not just in artmaking but as human beings.
From Yadira Martinez-Castillo:
This past summer, our program was privileged to partner with CultureWorks to provide art classes for TRIO students. While TRIO’s primary mission is to prepare students from first-generation and income-eligible backgrounds for college success, we intentionally integrate “non-academic” programming such as the arts into our curriculum. Research and our own program experience confirm that participation in the arts builds essential skills – creative problem solving, focus, collaboration, and resilience – that directly support stronger academic and long-term professional outcomes. Just as importantly, for many of our students, opportunities to explore the arts are limited or unavailable in their high schools. CultureWorks fills this critical gap.
The impact of this partnership was clear. One student who often hesitates to participate in academic classes came alive in the studio, discovering confidence and leadership while working on a collaborative art piece. Another described art as a tool for managing stress, noting how it helped them return to their academic coursework more focused. These experiences underscore the ways in which the arts enrich students’ overall educational journey and prepare them for success beyond high school.
We were also deeply impressed by the work of Miranda and Jaer, whose creativity, patience, and relational approach created an atmosphere where students felt safe to try new things and grow. They offered far more than instruction – they fostered a community of belonging and exploration.
Yadira Martinez-Castillo
Director- TRIO Upward Bound
