Mission Statement of WSYAI
The mission of Winston-Salem Youth Arts Institute is to develop youth authors who publish, stage, and film their life experiences so that they can transform their lives, become leaders, and effect change in the world.
Who the WSYAI Serves
The Winston-Salem Youth Arts Institute brings professional artists together with youth seeking franchise* and non-violence in an at-risk and violent world.
*Franchise implies that youth are taking action on their own behalf, as opposed to having something done for them. That's a huge (and positive) shift from the way many programs are structured. The term "at risk" - much like the terms "troubled" and "minority" - have earned their place in the category of labeling. Many youth bolt when they are addressed with "at risk" - "I'm not at risk." They equate it with "slow" or "bad." While, on the other hand, the term "franchise" is most correct because it indicates a hope to be included. It invites both the community and its youth to bond towards a future that will empower. Precisely the word "franchise" connotes the positive as opposed to "at risk" where the word "risk" is negative. With "franchise" we purport gain for a viable child who needs support systems, versus "risk" where we purport to fix a broken child who failed to benefit by systems supposedly available. It's the community that is at risk, indeed our systems (familial, civic, economic) that need to be fixed. Children do not rear themselves.
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