Bullying Ends With Us: Club Teens at the First Thursday Art Walk

A huge thanks goes out to the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel for generously hosting our Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles Harbor event during First Thursday's Art Walk!

On the evening of March 5th, a group of our Club teens stood in the lobby of the Crowne Plaza in San Pedro, ready to share their artwork with the world.

"The world" might sound like a bit of an exaggeration. But for teens who spend most of their time inside a Club, a school, or a bedroom, stepping into a hotel lobby on a Thursday night, as part of San Pedro's First Thursday Art Walk, might be, at the very least, a big deal.

Nearly 100 pieces from across Harbor-area clubs and schools were on display that night, alongside live performances by the Harbor City Teen Center Band. The work took every shape the night could hold: paintings, photographs, interactive installations, live art, and a series of themed pieces created by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles Harbor Keystone group.

Those pieces were part of "Bullying Ends with Us," the National Keystone Project our teen leaders have been working on throughout the year. Through their art, our Keystone members illustrated the effects of bullying and asked those in attendance to look, read, and sit with a topic that deeply affects them.

The evening gave our Club teens a chance to connect with their peers, families, and the community, but most of all, it gave them a chance to be seen.

Want to support our kids, or join one of our sites? To support their work, consider becoming a monthly sustainer, or join us by finding a Club near you at bgclaharbor.org/locations.