Mission Urban Arts (MUA)

Helen McGrath, Program Director: helen@cellspace.org
Lizbett Calleros, Program Coordinator: lizbett@cellspace.org
Jacob Simas, Program Director @ Horizons Unlimited: jacob_simas@hotmail.com

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Jan. 2007: Congratulations to the Mission Urban Arts youths who won the Youth Warrior Award from DCYF for their courage, for their commitment to their community, and for being warriors!

Brian Doblado

Martin Olivares

Davonne Dupart - Honorable Mention

Elvyn Mejia - Honorable Mention

Program Mission: To provide comprehensive after school programming in an environment that is structured, and safe, and facilitated by caring and nonjudgmental adults and paid youth advisors within the program, for at-risk youth in the Mission District and the city and county of San Francisco. We provide free, bilingual (English/Spanish) instruction to youth ages 13-19, Monday thru Friday, 44 weeks a year. Youth receive access to over eight urban arts classes, academic tutoring, mentoring/counseling, youth leadership, field trips, and workshops.

The Mission Urban Arts after school program offers youth the opportunity to become paid youth advisors within the program. The youth advisors undergo trainings in conflict resolution, communication, workshop/meeting facilitation, and more. MUA youth advisors assist our urban arts instructors with their classes, with program development, fundraising and act as liaisons between the youth and the staff. Youth leadership is very important to MUA, and we are proud of our Youth Advisors and the impact they make in the direction and mission of our program.

History: MUA began in October 2003 as a small arts after school program offering classes three days per week to about 15 youth each session. In January 2005, we began a partnership with Horizons Unlimited of San Francisco to expand the program. Within weeks of this new partnership our enrollment numbers increased significantly. In collaboration with Horizons, we now offer urban arts classes, academic enrichment services, counseling services, and leadership development to over 250 youth each year, five days each week.

Current Resources: CELLspace has received funding to support MUA from the following foundations: The Ford Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, The Nelson Fund, Youth Leadership Institute, The Walter and Elise Haas Fund, and The Miranda Lux Foundation.

Current Projects:

  • MUA is working with the Tupac Amaru Studio here @ CELL on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

  • We now have new classes and mediums such as silk screening and painting.

  • Come check out our sports component for young men and women.

  • Our video class is back! Every Wednesday in the Media Lab.

Past Projects:

  • chopper bicycle making class

  • Estudio Ollin, a jewelry making and metal works class using metal overlay.

How to get involved:

  • Volunteer: Project 20, community-service learning through a university, intern, or work-study

  • Tutor: send a cover letter and resume to lizbett@cellspace.org, helen@cellspace.org, or jacob_simas@hotmail.com with relevant experience. Bilingual speakers (Spanish/English encouraged to apply; seeking applicants with knowledge in high-school subjects, especially higher math and science (i.e. geometry and chemistry)

  • Art instruction: send a cover letter and resume to helen@cellspace.org and jacob_simas@hotmail.com with a brief class description and sample curriculum.