It's Amazing to see what happens to students once they find expression and true interest in something new. It’s as if life has become a new experience. This is where we see students shine the most because expression is what gives birth to hope. We don’t know anyone who doesn’t want hope in their lives, but we know many who are having a hard time finding it.

The Struggle: There are many students in the Sarasota area that are struggling to find their niche. Part of that struggle comes from the difficult backgrounds and issues that surround them. These are very capable teens, but various combinations of home issues and sometimes legal issues keep them from moving in a forward direction.

So, what makes a teen an at-risk teen? Many at-risk teens have difficulty in school resulting in a poor grade point averages and prolonged academic problems. Some teens have legitimate learning disabilities such as ADD or ADHD, or have some kind of processing deficit while other teens have trouble adapting to social structures and pressures. Then there are the teens who have simply made bad decisions.

Many times, circumstances that these teens face are based on the influences around them. Besides the families that are failing in Sarasota, there are issues of prescription drug abuse and drug dealing, teen pregnancy and lack of good moral character examples and even homelessness.

If we factor in these hard to deal with issues and circumstances, we find that teens are more likely to make a slew of bad decisions that can keep them from having a positive life experience

At-Risk Teens have a tough time finding where to fit in both academically and socially and there is a recurring answer as to why they can’t seem to progress. First of all, their situations are difficult and rather complicated. Secondly, many programs are not available to them.

A lot of programs in Sarasota are designed to allow only those students that meet a certain minimum grade point average to participate. While these are great programs that serve Sarasota well, many at-risk students can’t meet those requirements.

Unfortunately, crime is also an issue. Yes, there are at-risk students that have had problems with the law. They’ve made bad decisions and it’s a tough call for many of these programs to make as to who goes and who stays. These are very talented kids.

Most at-risk teens have learned a tremendous life lesson and realize that there is more to life. They want to succeed but labels end up hurting their chances in a huge way.

Some of our students already have Felony charges on thier record. Once a student has a Felony, employment is extremely hard to find,especially with so many looking for work. This program can help students create better work ethics and begin a positive work reference.

ART Life can make a difference. We can help at-risk teens find new expressions in Graphic Art and Photography and we can show them that there is a chance for them to make a difference.

This website explains how we would like to make Art Life Happen, our strategy, director, and the needs and challenges we have ahead of us.

Art Life would like to see students learn and grow in a love for art that will translate into a career path into Commercial Art. This program will help them prepare to apply to a trade school, be able to get them to a level where they can go to work for a local studio or begin their own business in the art field