In 2022, Studio Apprentices at Baltimore Youth Arts came up with the idea of designing a campaign for youth mental health. 2 years later, the project has been fully realized.

Throughout the pandemic, Baltimore Youth Arts participants had spoken openly about the state of their mental health. The collective grief of living through the pandemic, along with repeated Black and Brown death, in addition to being a teenager and feeling disconnected from school and community, took a massive toll on many young people.

In the summer of 2022, BYA youth interns and apprentices, alongside program staff, developed a project surrounding the theme of youth mental health and well-being using photography, graphic design, and writing. Throughout the 5-week session, youth apprentices collaborated on a series of images with the intention of eventually re-designing the work to be wrapped around buses that travel across Baltimore City. While they focused on photography and graphic design, youth also used various media to convey their ideas, including writing, mixed media, and painting. The goal is not only to spread the message of tending to one’s mental health but to highlight how young people are affected and how they persevere. The wrapped buses will travel throughout Baltimore city, displaying the work across neighborhoods, sharing young people’s message about disconnection, taking care of each other, and the strength of youth in the city.

Through this project, we hope to reach a wide audience throughout the city, playing on the theme of public art by increasing the number of community members that engage with our work. Commuters who use public transportation, including BYA members and other young people from across the city, will be able to enjoy and reflect on the artwork both inside and outside of the bus through the use of advertisement space.

One of the many bus shelter ads placed in the Station North Arts District around the Baltimore Youth Arts studio.

Artscape attendees walking past one of our Lightrail Station ads.

Baltimore Youth Arts staff, apprentices, and board members at the unveiling of the bus during the kickoff event on August 3rd, 2024.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this project over the years.

Jasmine A.
Chazzon B.
Marcus H.
Ezra M.
Faith S.
Ayana H.
Tyonna G.
Markus B.
Tyler S.
Mariah C.
Jasmine H.
Makaila K.
Khristen C.
Lynette O.
Zachary H.
Christian H.
DeAnna W.
Miracle M.
Maurice C.
Oluwadara F.
Terrell A.
Mark W.
Jer’Brea N.
Kya S.
Tyler S.
Jacobi B.
Chazzon B.
William B.
Devan Bryan
Antoine C.
Mariah C.
Laylah D.
Tyonna G.
Kanyah H.
Zachary H.
Aumiracle O.
Troy P.
Tyre R.
Kymora S.
Tyler S.
Justin S.
Bryce B.
Autumn O.
Muhamad K.
Justin H.
Chazzon B.
Tyler S.
Zachary H.
Kymora S.
Amari D.
Aumiracle O.
Kamyah T.
Maya P.
Terrence M.
Tiyonna B.
Lamar S.
Kanyah H.
Chazzon B.
Amari D.
Malik E.
Chanyai G.
Justin H.
Zachary H.
Aiyanna K.
Muhamad K.
Marjaanah M.
Terrence M.
Autumn O.
Aumiracle O.
Maya P.
Kamyah T.
Kalil K.
Keonte S.
Cameron C.
Tamirah D.
Alyssa R.
Destiny B.
Amari D.
Autumn O.
Benjamin A.
Chanyai G.
David A.
Lapraya M.
Mariah C.
Marjaanah M.
Maya P.
Muhamad K.
Rashawnda W.
Savannah R.
Suzanna M.
Tristin P.
William B.
Wisdom O.
Yaniah G.
Zachary H.
Arthur F.
Zyonna L.

Project Leads

Gianna Rodriguez
Art Direction and Project Management

Nia Parks
Project Management and Lead Graphic Designer

Nell Arnett
Graphic Design and Marketing

Jasmine Artis
Chiara Cole
Brianna Ford
Makaila Keith
Ezra Morrow
Maria Monterrosa
Gianna Rodriguez
Nia Parks
Nell Arnett
Latifah Drummond
Damon Walker
Linnea Poole
Nathan Paluzzi
Ahmed Adbullah
Nadia Rea
Leisha Winley
Brady Wheeler
Unique Robinson
Iya Jackson
Cherokee Lymon
Camille Grayson
Gianna Rodriguez
Kanita Stewart
Lauren Di Martino
Nira Pughsley
Joy Davis
Omowunmi Oni
Quentin Gibeau