This is New York: Brian Ricklin, Harlem Youth Champion

CAW’s summer program is just one of the organization’s projects, unleashing the power of art to empower children and youth in Harlem, and to positively affect their communities.
This is New York: Brian Ricklin, Harlem Youth Champion
7/26/2011
Updated:
10/1/2015


<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/TINY.jpg" alt="ART TO EMPOWER: Brian Ricklin, CEO and executive director of Creative Art Workshop for Kids(CAW) stands next to a mural in Harlem River Park. (Gidon Belmaker/The Epoch Times)" title="ART TO EMPOWER: Brian Ricklin, CEO and executive director of Creative Art Workshop for Kids(CAW) stands next to a mural in Harlem River Park. (Gidon Belmaker/The Epoch Times)" width="575" class="size-medium wp-image-1798475"/></a>
ART TO EMPOWER: Brian Ricklin, CEO and executive director of Creative Art Workshop for Kids(CAW) stands next to a mural in Harlem River Park. (Gidon Belmaker/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORK—The rain did not stop kids from working on a new mural in Harlem River Park on Monday. Working in small teams, the kids were busy scraping the wall, preparing it for painting.

As Brian Ricklin, CEO and executive director of Creative Art Workshop for Kids (CAW), walked by the young participants of the summer program, they greeted him politely, but quickly resumed their work. Ricklin continued on his way, not wanting to interfere with their progress.

In other areas of the park, brilliantly colored murals from past programs offer a glimpse into to the souls of the kids who painted them, and into the soul of the community.

CAW’s summer program is just one of the organization’s projects, unleashing the power of art to empower children and youth in Harlem, and to positively affect their communities. Though CAW has been around for over two decades, and is cooperating with major institutions and organizations such as the Museum of Modern Art, the media often overlooks its solid grass-roots work.

Coming from a business background, Ricklin pays close attention to metrics and sustainable growth of the nonprofit he heads.

The Epoch Times: How do these programs affect the children?

Brian Ricklin:The impact is quite tangible. We can clearly measure how they improve in terms of social and developmental skills, [and] obviously technical skills. But we are not looking to create future artists. We look to create strong, active citizens who can contribute in a meaningful way in society. We see it [the impact] in school. We see it in them not getting pregnant, in kids not getting involved in violence, becoming leaders, improving their communication skills, their confidence, and most importantly becoming creative problem solvers.

Epoch Times: What makes art so powerful?

Ricklin: Art comes from the soul. It is the freest form of expression. These particular kids don’t realize, because they are somewhat underserved, that they can have a real impact. It is powerful when someone starts a program, sees some of the works and says: “I can do that.” These are not artists; they go through a process. They learn not only to respect the process, but they created something that has both their individual signature, and as a team. They are giving back to society and expressing themselves; and they are treating it with great respect.

Every social issue that plagues America and plagues the world is right here, yet Harlem is a very rich and very diverse place. Art does move people to do great things.

Epoch Times: What is your vision for Harlem?

Ricklin: I wasn’t around during the Harlem renaissance, when many great musicians and performers thrived here, writers, painters. Harlem would be a destination. Children would have pride in Harlem. I don’t want kids to feel they need to flee Harlem. There would be less disparity in terms of socio-economic class with other parts of the city.

The poverty here, the lack of education, the lack of jobs, the percentage of people who went into the criminal justice system— and the likelihood the next generation would go too— that is amazing.