Combining artistic creativity and business savvy is the goal of the Jr. ARTrepreneurs Program started in 2018 by Heroes of Color (HOC). “The program’s initial objectives were to inspire students to explore different career pathways by learning about business and entrepreneurship,” said David Heredia, founder of HOC. “The mission has stayed the same, but…we are more intentional about making students tap into their gifts, their skills and helping them discover themselves.”
HOC inspires students to create and sell custom art while building confidence, critical thinking skills and financial literacy. Art supplies and business training are provided by HOC. The four-week program culminates in an art show where students sell their own work. On Friday, May 16, middle and high school students from Union City presented their art for sale at the Jr. ARTrepreneurs Art Exhibition at James Logan High School.
“Anyone can pick a career and work for someone else, but not everybody can carve their own pathway and create opportunities for themselves,” said Heredia. “Usually, it starts with something as simple as believing that you could do that. Nobody has told [students] enough times that they can create their own businesses. We are grateful to the New Haven School District for their partnership because together we are giving birth to a new generation of entrepreneurs in Union City.”
At the exhibition, the excited artists sat behind their imaginative creations—quite a few of which were already happily marked as sold. There was a variety of custom art for sale, such as decorated baseball caps, paintings, jewelry and jean patches. Many tables offered free candy to tempt customers.
“It opened a lot of doors to be able to create whatever. They [HOC] provide you with canvases and constantly ask, ‘Do you want more?’” said Logan High School student Mack McAvoy about the HOC program. “It’s cool because everyone has their own style so everyone’s doing their own thing and creating in the same room.”
HOC gives the student artists tips on how to sell their art and interact with customers. “We do skits about what if this person says this and what if this happens,” said Cesar Chavez Middle School student Addison Sierra.
HOC also offers student workshops on a variety of subjects like hand puppetry, animation and eco-engineering, to name a few.
More information is available at heroesofcolor.com.
