Opening Doors

For 24 years I was lucky enough to be involved with a fantastic effort in Seattle that works with high school students to build self-esteem and encourage expression. Once a month during the school year, 30 some-odd high school students and a dozen or so adult volunteers gathered as a professional artist shared their work, their life and hopefully some inspiration. Operating as a community outreach of AIGA Seattle, The Link Program has worked with hundreds of students and awarded on the order of half a million dollars in scholarships. The alumni are not only artists, but teachers, civil servants, developers, designers and more.

What began as a grass-roots effort to stem a dearth of funding for the arts at Franklin High School and to give students a productive and expressive outlet has grown into something that has inspired similar efforts – and made a lasting, positive impact on hundreds of lives.

How did it all begin? Great question. I’m so glad you asked. In 1994, I was asked by Glenn Mitsui and Paula Wong if I would be interested in helping out with a high school art program they were starting at Franklin. Paula’s daughter attended Franklin, there was scant money for the arts and more, her daughter had attended funerals for friends who had been killed in gang-related violence. They wanted to do something positive. Of course, I did, too.

Artists and designers all, the volunteers were all friends and paid for each of the workshops out of pocket. We were figuring things out as we went along. Early on, we were fortunate enough to find an ally in The Coyne Foundation. The Foundation has made possible more than 200 workshops to more than 700 students – at no cost to the students. They are to be applauded for this generosity and vision. You can read more in this recent article in Communication Arts.

Over the years, students have become adults. Many of them have become friends. And a select few have returned to the program to volunteer and lead the effort. It’s been a constant part of my life for a quarter century and now, as my own children are growing up, I am taking a hiatus to spend more time with them and their own pursuits. Still, I miss Link and the people terribly.

With any luck, I’ll be taking them to workshops in a few short years when they reach high school age. Wouldn’t that be beautiful?

To find out more about The AIGA Link Program, just click. You’ll be glad you did.