Welcome To My World (WTMW), a Full Vision Arts Endeavor in partnership with Felton Institute’s Teenage Pregnancy & Parenting Program (TAPP) and Young Family Resource Center (YFRC), is a multi-disciplinary arts pilot program structurally based on our popular Youth Arts Immersion program and our ongoing Creative Gumbo New Media Arts initiative. WTMW engages Transitional Age Youth where they are right now and encourages them to harness the power of the arts to express themselves.

Through an introduction to the performing and new media arts and mentorship, works of self-expression are created, produced and performed by young people who may not otherwise have an opportunity to receive such instruction. WTMW gives creative voice to the interests, experiences, goals and backgrounds of the participants in the program.  The transportable, hands-on arts and life skills training program combines music, drama, spoken word/poetry and new media arts with multi-disciplinary performing arts.

The project’s purpose is to engage Transitional Age Youth of color and provide them with creative options to problem solving, conflict resolution and coping in a rapidly changing, urban environment. WTMW gives the world-at-large a glimpse into their lives and into their worlds.

Through film, video, new media, live performance and the production of music, theatre, dance, spoken word/poetry and more, WTMW engages young people and inspires them to express themselves, gain greater self-confidence and to make the arts a regular part of their lives.

Transitional Age Youth (TAY) life skills training and mentorship are woven into a well-rounded performing arts curriculum with an emphasis on contemporary music creation and on stage performance.

Consistent attendance is encouraged and rewarded with free technology tools that help bridge the digital divide facing many families of color in our community. Thanks to generous donations from Tech Exchange and the dedicated work of Full Vision executive Larry Chew, WTMW awarded Dell laptop computers and computer backpacks to those with the best attendance.

Through film, video, new media, live performance and the production of music, theatre, dance, spoken word/poetry and more, WTMW engages young people and inspires them to find creative ways to express themselves, gain greater self-confidence and to make the arts a regular part of their lives.

We salute Felton Institute CEO Al GIlbert, Chief Financial & Operations Officer Marvin Davis, Chief Operations Officer Yohana Quiroz, Divisional Director Kate Shadoan, Family Support Director Rosaura Diaz and YFRC Director Nancy Maldonado for their dedicated work in the community and their committed partnership during the pilot session of WTMW.