On Friday, September 29, KYCC’s Prevention Education hosted its 7th Annual Rise Up Speak Out event. Rise Up Speak Out began in 2017 and has become an annual event that is hosted for the Los Angeles community to tell youth stories through art, photography, poetry, and other creative outlets.  

This year Rise Up Speak Out converged the magic of creativity, with the strength of community, in an extraordinary way. The event was thoughtfully crafted as a platform for our community members to immerse themselves in various forms of artistic expression, ranging from painting, drawing, and photography, to spoken word, dance, and music. The overarching aim of the event is to tackle pressing societal and global issues, while also nurturing health and resilience amongst youth. 

This year’s theme, “Threads of Recovery: Weaving Community Stories,” shines a spotlight on the creation of an immersive, collaborative art display. Participants were able to share their personal journeys of recovery on interconnected postcards, weaving together a visually stunning tapestry that beautifully underscores the unwavering support of our community. 

Program participants were provided postcards where they could write, draw, and put together collages to answer the question, “What is recovery and/or prevention to you?” One of the responses to the question from a youth participant was, “Recovery is having a supportive family and having boundaries where there is unconditional love.”

Thank you to our program and event partners Children’s Hospital LA (CHLA), Korean American Family Services (KFAM), Institute for Public Strategies (IPS), and Behavioral Health Services (BHS) for helping us host an amazing event for our community.

Funding is provided by Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC) and Elevate Youth California. 

To learn more about the work of KYCC Prevention Education click here.