The Norris Square Neighborhood Project (NSNP) recently hosted a youth art showcase, titled “With + Without Youth” in Kensington’s Las Parcelas Garden. The showcase, which featured silkscreen artwork, homemade crafts, and original performances, explored the theme of homelessness in Kensington and throughout Philadelphia.

    High school students worked with teaching artists Saul Zayas and Calo Rosa on various projects during the summer. Attendees of the Friday night showcase were treated to complimentary limbers (a Puerto Rican water ice treat) and had the opportunity to purchase homemade soaps, candles, and silk-screen t-shirts, all designed and created by NSNP students.   

   During the performance portion of the night, students took to the mic to read poetry and original pieces centered on the theme of homelessness and society’s reaction to it. The event culminated in a screening of a 12-minute documentary produced by the students called “We Are Human.” The film features candid interviews with homeless Philadelphians. It focuses not so much on the complex socioeconomic issues surrounding homelessness, but on the human beings who are directly affected by it every day. The interviewees were asked about their situations; how they ended up on the streets, what their lives were like before homelessness, and how they want to be understood.   

   Saul Zayas has been involved with NSNP for almost 10 years. He started participating as a student and worked his way up to assistant and finally teaching artist. I spoke to him about the “With + Without Youth” showcase and his students’ reactions to tackling such an important issue.

   “The students were all for it,” said Zayas, when the topic of homelessness was introduced. “It’s something I think about personally in my own life. We have a list of things we want to tackle, but we can only do one thing [at a time] and since I was already thinking about it…we chose the theme of homelessness and the other teaching artist [Calo] was all for it too,” he said.

   However, there was some initial hesitation from the youth when it came to approaching interview subjects and offering to hear their story.    

   “When we first went out to start doing interviews, the youth were a little [reluctant] to approach people and ask if they wanted to do interviews and talk to them… but once the students saw how friendly people are, it wasn’t something to be afraid of, they started going out and doing their own thing,” he said. “It was really good to see them evolve like that,” he added.   

   The students’ evolution was the perfect embodiment of the theme the documentary tried to convey, according to Zayas. He was happy that the students could come to see the homeless population for what they are: individuals – human beings with thoughts, feelings, dreams, hopes, and fears.

   “At the end of the day, if you were to strip it down yourself, from all the luxury things, the person that you’re looking at, that you’re so afraid of is just a reflection of yourself – is just like you. You know, once you strip off the expensive sneakers and all that — the car, it’s just you. Material things make no difference. Everyone’s the same, everyone’s human,” he said.

   The students gave the homeless more than just a voice this summer. They also offered their time by volunteering weekly at the St. Francis Inn, which offers food, clothing, and hospitality to Philadelphia’s homeless population on daily basis.

   “My supervisor Gabby [Sanchez] got connected with them and wanted the youth to experience hands-on helping, to serve, and to do volunteer work there,” said Zayas.

   In addition to their volunteering, the students also had a chance to help the St. Francis Inn monetarily. Ten percent of all the proceeds from the art showcase and craft fair were donated to the Inn on behalf of NSNP.

   The Norris Square Neighborhood Project was founding in 1973 and promotes positive change through youth education, community leadership, greenspaces, the arts, and the celebration of Latino culture. NSNP offers a number of summer initiatives, after school programs, and urban gardens. You can learn more at myneighborhoodproject.org. •