Happy New Year From Our Youth

Recently I asked some youthLEADarts students to write down their hopes, dreams and wishes for the world and youth like themselves in 2024, a new year.

They hoped that everything would be good.

I asked what they meant and they responded, “By good, I mean that you have the freedom to be whoever you want to be. That you have the confidence to be yourself no matter what other people think. That you have and can make choices.”

“That you can Laugh. Live. Love. Find ways to be happy and make others happy too.”

“That we can improve ourselves. That our families can have good health, that we can know ourselves and one another better and maybe then the world can be at peace.”

“The road ahead is mighty. We have a lot to look forward to. I hope our dreams will come true.”

With programs beginning as early as next week at Strathcona Elementary in Vancouver, all of us, our artists, our board, our youth wish you a happy 2024. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to help our dreams come true.

Below is some word art created from poems youth wrote containing their wishes, hopes and dreams. Enjoy and stay tuned to share in and be supportive of their hopeful and inspiring voices.