Demaciiio Teaches Youth of MiSide Youth Academy

This past week, the YouthBuild students had an incredible opportunity to learn a new skill, painting!  

  Working with Demaciiio, a world-renowned muralist from right here in Southwest Detroit, the students learned how to create a work of art while working together. 

  The week-long project saw the students workshopping the concept and designing the mural as a team. You can see the themes of YouthBuild shine through in so many ways.  

  From the people building the home, to the people learning in the classroom, the YouthBuild spirit is strong.  

  For some of the students, like Mela and Trevon, the project took them back to their artistic roots. Mela graduated from college with a degree in animation, so art is in her blood.  

  “I’m back where I belong,” Mela said as she was covered in paint and smiling ear to ear. 

  Kevin got to flex his creative muscles and show off his painting skills during the project. He spends his free time painting houses with his aunt, but this project gave him a lot more creative freedom than he’s used to. 

  For all of the students involved, their favorite part was working together to come up with the concept for the mural. You can see how important working together is to the YouthBuild students by looking up at the top of the masterpiece.  

  You can see Team Work! scrolled across the top in large letters, even the letters are giving each other a hand up. That is the spirit of YouthBuild. All of the students support one another and lend a hand when their peers need it.   

Creating a mural gave the students a sense of joy that was radiating throughout the room. Music filled the air and everyone was singing and dancing, painting and chatting, and smiling and laughing.    

Damaciiio shared his talents with the students of YouthBuild, but he also shared his spirit.  

  The students of YouthBuild have grown as artists and individuals thanks to this project. When the classes get tough and the days feel long, they can look to this mural to remind them what they are capable of: greatness.