It is about reminding young people that their emotions and ideas are equally worthy of respect and expression. It is giving our youth a vehicle to form lasting relationships based in support, encouragement, and respect. It is providing opportunities for youth to mentor their peers, run programs, and serve as authentic advisors in the administration of Layaya. These dedicated young people strive to help the community with service projects and they also learn the business end of the art world – making and keeping the funds generated by the artwork. Layaya members become examples of success, making their families and our community proud. They are an all too often overlooked resource in our community. Layaya is about highlighting the unique talents of these young people and assisting them to develop those talents as far as they wish. Layaya empowers the youth members to be the leaders, managers, decision makers and successful artists that they are. By simply giving them skills to organize, encouragement, permission for expression and peer support and dedication – they become excited about where they may go next in the adventure! Art gives us the media and the opportunity to shape and communicate feelings. The arts introduce us all to connectivity, engagement, and allows a sense of identification with, and responsibility for, others. Young people learn to think creatively, work on a team, and practice challenging tasks until completion. They engage in problem solving, expression of ideas, planning, and obtain skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.
“Layaya ARTupreneurs”
While many of their peers are working part time jobs, cutting lawns or babysitting to earn extra money, Layaya members become “Artpreneurs” retaining 100% of profit from the art projects that they produce. In addition to teaching creative art skills and being an incubator of creative ideas and projects , we mentor each member in all aspects of art as business. Most Layaya members begin earning a self – produced income from the artwork and art projects that they develop with Layaya by the end of their first year of membership! . Not only do we teach and mentor each member in the fundamentals of the creative process but we help them achieve the goals that they set for themselves in an early art career. The Layaya Mission
Louisiana Young Artists & Young Authors strives to ensure opportunities for youth from all backgrounds in Plaquemines Parish to do something creative and positive with their talents and their time. The goal of Layaya is to provide an environment that will inspire youth to optimize opportunities for personal growth and development by building both community and self- awareness through the arts. Layaya fosters involvement in the arts and increased connections to the community to encourage, support, and celebrate their artistic talents and social development. The main focus and goal is to support the development of young people into magnificent human beings through participation in visual and performing arts. Layaya promotes activities designed to build desirable qualities of character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship and to give each member a voice. We inspire not only exceptional art but ethical choices in academics, peer relations as well as contributions to the community. In addition to teaching art and incubating young art careers, we are dedicated to teaching values, respect, exceptional character and support for fellow members. We strive to foster leadership qualities, cultural pride and high standards in academics as well as the arts.. Layaya is a youth governed and member driven organization.
