Some lessons happen in a classroom. Others happen in a working art studio, surrounded by the real thing. Our kids got the second kind when they traveled to Palm Springs to visit the studio of local pop-urban artist Tysen Knight.

Tysen welcomed the kids in and let them explore their creativity alongside their Friends. They colored their own take on one of his paintings, each one turning out a little different, each one unmistakably theirs. When the art was finished, the kids got to photograph their work on Tysen's red carpet, a small touch that made them feel like the real artists they are.

Getting to make art in a space like this does something for a kid. It shows them that creativity is not just for other people in other places. It belongs to them too. Watching our youth light up as they made something of their own was a reminder of how much they are capable of when someone hands them the tools and the encouragement to try.

We are grateful to Tysen Knight for opening his doors, sharing his craft, and giving our kids a day they will not forget. When people in our community make room for our youth like this, they are telling them something powerful. That they belong, that their imagination matters, and that there is a place for them to create.