I didn’t begin this painting knowing what it would become. I only knew I wanted to create something rooted in spirituality and identity, something that felt like me. As I worked on the painting's face, I wanted it to represent the women I have been surrounded by, and I decided to paint Mary, the mother of Christ. I focused on the softness around her eyes, the tension in her mouth, and the tears that refused to fall quietly. But beyond her, I built the frame with winding roses and thorns, deliberate and unavoidable. The roses represent love, beauty, and devotion, but the thorns remind us that love is never without pain. I started to feel something deeper than inspiration. I felt recognition. I saw my mother, not in a literal sense, but in a truth I had never fully understood before. Growing up, my mother’s love felt constant, like something that existed. I didn’t question it. I didn’t see what it cost. But being away from my hometown in New Orleans to college in San Francisco, learning to stand on my own, I began to understand. Love is not effortless. It is not light. It is a sacrifice. This painting became that realization. Mary’s glowing heart is not just a symbol of devotion; it is a symbol of giving. Of knowing that loving someone deeply may mean letting them go, enduring pain, and choosing what is right over what is easy. That kind of love is not quiet; it radiates, it aches, it transforms. And that is the kind of love my mother has given me. I think about the sacrifices she made that I never saw, the things she went without, the strength she carried in silence, the faith she held onto when things were uncertain. Like the figure in this painting, she loved me with a heart that was always open, even when it hurt. The tears in this piece matter. They are not weaknesses. They are true. They remind me that love and pain can coexist, and that the most powerful love often does. Now, when I look at this work, I no longer see only Mary. I see every mother who has given of herself and sacrificed so her child could grow, leave, and become more. I see love that endures, transforms, and demands courage. I see devotion that is beautiful, painful, and impossible to ignore.

“Reclamation” This art piece was different from all the rest I’ve done and challenged me into creating art in different ways than the normal person would have done. This artwork was created as part of an assignment that challenged me to paint without using a traditional paintbrush. For my composition what was used were a paper straw and natural materials, mainly plants and laced fabric rather than a brush. Making this decision allowed me to incorporate aspects of my African American Creole identity into the artwork itself, as it was not only about technique but also about storytelling. I also wanted to share a highlight on hair styles back in the south black women weren’t allowed to show their hair or have elaborate hairstyles. Laws were enforced to wear our hair and had to be covered up and not show because it was deemed as unkept and repulsive to look at . When I created this painting I wanted to take back that history and recover the significance, beauty, and strength of black hair. Laws such as the Tignon Laws, which required Black and Creole women to cover their hair, were implemented in the South in an effort to stifle their individuality and lessen their visibility in society. These regulations presented our natural hair as something that should be concealed and not displayed. Black women, however, found methods to turn these limitations into symbols of pride rather than letting them obliterate who they were. They did this by utilizing expensive materials, tying their head wraps in elaborate ways, and transforming an act of oppression into one of resistance. By making hair the most prominent and unabashed aspect of the portrait, I aimed to celebrate that tenacity when I painted it. Despite past attempts to minimize Black beauty, the bold, textured hairdo shines tall. It occupies space and demands attention; it is not concealed, tamed, or suppressed. From intricate braids and twists to organic curls and sculpted updos, this is a celebration of the artistic ingenuity and inventiveness that have long been a part of Black hair culture. In making this piece, I also embraced the idea of resourcefulness, which is rich in Black history, by utilizing unusual instruments like a paper straw. In the same way that my people managed to express themselves in spite of limitations, I managed to make this picture come to life without the use of conventional painting supplies. The message was extended by the technique itself: Black beauty cannot be reduced, erased, or contained. Reclamation is the theme of this artwork. It questions the notion that our presence, our hair, or our characteristics should ever be concealed. It honors the diversity of our ancestry, the artistry of our self-expression, and the timeless beauty that has endured despite history's best efforts to stifle it.

I am an ambitious and driven young lady. As a child, being surrounded by astonishingly creative people has impacted my life. My Mother is a very creative person. Watching my Mother create almost anything and seeing the ideas come to life was amazing. But it wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time, and to my surprise, I did an excellent job! However, my 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was the pivotal moment when my potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher, Mr. Vaughn. From there onward, I knew I wanted to become a professional Artist. I searched for art programs outside of school to help express my interest. Then, I obtained an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program, set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. As Peer Leader, I am responsible for helping the New Orleans Lead Artist with lessons and plans, helping to develop concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff.   I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans. I was also interviewed and featured in local news articles for participation in the New Orleans East Library Mural. I’m part of a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I‘m an undergraduate student attending California College of the Arts. It is truly a dream come true. Furthering my education will help me gain an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. I aim to advance my education to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams. I promise I will excel and never let anything get in my way of achieving my Dreams. One day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. When I graduate, I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. You can be who you want, no matter your circumstances, background, or environment. I would love to build a creative art school where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. I plan to make a positive impact on my community and the world. I want to build a Creative Art school where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world.

My passion is the ability to create art. As a child, being surrounded by astonishingly creative people has impacted my life. My Mother is a very creative person. Watching my mother make almost anything and seeing the ideas come to life was amazing. But it wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time, and to my surprise, I did an excellent job!   However, my 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was the pivotal moment when my potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher, Mr. Vaughn. From there onward, I knew I wanted to become a professional Artist. I searched for art programs outside of school to help express my interest. Then, I obtained the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. As Peer Leader, I have the responsibilities of helping the New Orleans Lead Artist with lessons and plans, helping to come up with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff.   I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans. I was interviewed and featured in local news articles for participation in the New Orleans East Library Mural. Currently, I’m part of a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope, in the future, I create art that can motivate and inspire other young people like myself.    My style of artwork inspiration mainly comes from black women. As a young black woman, I have grown to love our culture. I love the diversity of clothing styles we wear, our figures, our facial features, and especially how we style our hair. In my artwork, I also tried to represent the different hats women wear and the different social issues that they may go through. Using the right side of my brain, I can dream up ideas with my art. I use unique elements within my artwork to recreate the different styles and textures within my art pieces. When using the left side of my brain, I can logically think. The left side of my brain helps bring my art ideas to life. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, people, and elements. I Feel having this specific passion/talent can showcase not only what’s happening in the world and our communities. Art is a free space of self-expression and can bring awareness to the artist and people through imagery or different hues. This opportunity will help me continue furthering my education. Furthering my education will help me gain an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. This opportunity will also help me relieve financial stress on me and my family. My goal now is to advance my education in hopes of continuing to learn and grow. I promise I will excel and never let anything get in my way of achieving my Dreams.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. As a child, being surrounded by astonishingly creative people impacted my life. My Mother is a very creative person. Watching my mother create almost anything and seeing the ideas come to life was amazing. But it wasn’t until I entered 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time, and I did an excellent job!  However, my 9th-grade year at Morris Community High School was the pivotal moment when my potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher, Mr. Vaughn. From there onward, I knew I wanted to become a professional Artist. To help my talents grow, I searched for art programs outside of school. I obtained the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. As Peer Leader, I have the responsibilities of helping the New Orleans Lead Artist with lessons and plans, helping to come up with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff.   I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans, the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration, and many other mural projects with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope, in the future, I create art that can motivate and inspire other young people like myself.    This present date, I‘m an undergraduate student attending California College of the Arts. It is truly a dream come true. Furthering my education will help me gain an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goal now is to advance my education in hopes of continuing to learn, grow, and accomplish my dreams. I promise I will excel and never let anything get in my way of achieving my Dreams. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and resources. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. I plan to make a positive impact on my community and the world. I want to build a Creative Art school where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world.

I am an ambitious and driven young lady. As a child, being surrounded by astonishingly creative people has impacted my life. My Mother is a very creative person. Watching my mother create almost anything and seeing the ideas come to life was amazing. But it wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time, and to my surprise, I did an excellent job!    However, my 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was the pivotal moment when my potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher, Mr. Vaughn. From there onward, I knew I wanted to become a professional Artist. I searched for art programs outside of school to help express my interest. Then, I obtained the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. As Peer Leader, I have the responsibilities of helping the New Orleans Lead Artist with lessons and plans, helping to come up with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff.   I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans. I was also interviewed and featured in local news articles for participation in the New Orleans East Library Mural. Currently, I’m part of a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. This present date, I‘m an undergraduate student attending California College of the Arts. It is truly a dream come true. Furthering my education will help me gain an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goal now is to advance my education in hopes of continuing to learn, grow, and accomplish my dreams. I promise I will excel and never let anything get in my way of achieving my Dreams. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. When I graduate, I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. You can be who you want, no matter your circumstances, background, or environment. I would love to build a creative art school where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. I plan to make a positive impact on my community and the world. I want to build a Creative Art school where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world.

As a child, I suffered from low confidence in being held back in school and thought I wasn’t good enough. I was shy to the point that I wouldn’t ask teachers for help if I didn’t understand something. My second-grade teacher recommended that I repeat the second grade. She recommended it in hopes that it would help me build confidence in myself and my abilities. My mother put me in different programs such as viola, lessons, tutoring, and other things to help me deal with my shyness and anxiety. I eventually came out of my shell in my eighth-grade year and into my ninth-grade high school year. I became more of a social butterfly and ran for Miss Freshman for homecoming, and I won! Throughout my high school experience, I became more and more confident in myself in my abilities. I embrace my creative side in art and I taught myself to draw and paint. I became good but still never thought I was great. I worked extremely hard to better my newfound talent. Once I reached my junior year of high school, I founded a program where I could showcase my creativity. I came across this program called Y.A.M. Young Artist Movement. It’s an internship to paint murals around New Orleans to better the community. Once granted the opportunity to be in the program, and paired with local Artist Journey Allen to work on a mural at our New Year Orleans East Public Library. Journey Allen has taken me under her wing and put me at the forefront of this project, which has given me the strength and confidence I needed. I also was interviewed and featured in local news articles for my participation in the mural. Acknowledged by my community, high school, and peers for this opportunity has encouraged me to believe in myself and my abilities. From there, I knew I truly wanted to be a Professional Artist. I received acceptance to California College of the Arts, something I never thought could happen. In the future, I Hope to build Creative Art School in my community. Where kids of all ages can attend and express their creative outlets for free. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to or an inspirational environment, it could change lives that can change the world. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other kids as it has done for me. This scholarship opportunity will help me achieve my goals to further my studies at California College of the Arts and accomplish my future dreams.

As a child, I suffered from low confidence in being held back in school and thought I wasn’t good enough. I was shy to the point that I wouldn’t ask teachers for help if I didn’t understand something. My second-grade teacher recommended that I repeat the second grade. She recommended it in hopes that it would help me build confidence in myself and my abilities. My mother put me in different programs such as viola, lessons, tutoring, and other things to help me deal with my shyness and anxiety. I eventually came out of my shell in my eighth-grade year and into my ninth-grade high school year. I became more of a social butterfly and ran for Miss Freshman for homecoming, and I won! Throughout my high school experience, I became more and more confident in myself in my abilities. I embrace my creative side in art and I taught myself to draw and paint. I became good but still never thought I was great. I worked extremely hard to better my newfound talent. Once I reached my junior year of high school, I founded a program where I could showcase my creativity. I came across this program called Y.A.M. Young Artist Movement. It’s an internship to paint murals around New Orleans to better the community. Once granted the opportunity to be in the program, and paired with local Artist Journey Allen to work on a mural at our New Year Orleans East Public Library. Journey Allen has taken me under her wing and put me at the forefront of this project, which has given me the strength and confidence I needed. I also was interviewed and featured in local news articles for my participation in the mural. Acknowledged by my community, high school, and peers for this opportunity has encouraged me to believe in myself and my abilities. From there, I knew I truly wanted to be a Professional Artist. I received acceptance to California College of the Arts, something I never thought could happen. In the future, I Hope to build Creative Art School in my community. Where kids of all ages can attend and express their creative outlets for free. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to or an inspirational environment, it could change lives that can change the world. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other kids as it has done for me. This scholarship opportunity will help me achieve my goals to further my studies at California College of the Arts and accomplish my future dreams.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people like my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program created for the youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. I Help with concepts for projects and execute them and educate the Youth Artist on tasks. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans, interviewed and featured in local news articles. I have also worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. They can be who you want to be no matter their circumstances, background, or environment. My future aspirations are to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain this scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will help me move forward with my future and give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, and techniques I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

I’m Aliyah Jolie Pflueger, a senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. As a child, being surrounded by astonishingly creative people has impacted my life. My Mother is a very creative person. Watching my mother create almost anything and seeing the ideas come to life was amazing. But it wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time, and to my surprise, I did an excellent job!    But my 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was the pivotal moment when my potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. From there onward, I knew I wanted to become a professional Artist. I searched for art programs outside of school to help express my interest. Then I obtained the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. As Peer Leader, I have the responsibilities of helping the New Orleans Lead Artist with lessons and plans, helping to come up with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff.   I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans. I also was interviewed and featured in local news articles for my participation in the New Orleans East Library Mural. Currently, I’m part of a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope, in the future, I create art that can motivate and inspire other young people like myself.    My style of artwork inspiration mainly comes from black women. As a young black woman, I have grown to love our culture. I love the diversity of clothing styles we wear, our figures, our facial features, and especially how we style our hair. In my artwork, I also tried to represent the different hats women wear and the different social issues that they may go through. I use unique elements within my artwork to recreate the different styles and textures within my art pieces. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, people, and elements. I Feel having this specific passion/talent can showcase not only what’s happening in the world and our communities. Art is a free space of self-expression and can bring awareness to the artist and people through imagery or different hues. This opportunity will help me attend the college of my dreams. Furthering my education will help me require an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goal now is to advance my education in hopes of continuing to learn, grow, and accomplish my dreams. I promise I will excel and never let anything get in my way of achieving my Dreams.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. For a long time, I suffered with low confidence in myself because I was, held back in the second grade, and I always thought I wasn’t good enough and didn’t know what I would ever become. I started learning how to draw and paint a painting. I became good but never thought I was great. I dreamed of becoming a professional Artist. During my junior year in high school, I decided to research art programs. I came across this art program called Y.A.M. while searching the internet. It is a program developed for Young artists in New Orleans to have an internship to paint murals around New Orleans to help bring back light to the community and for youth to have fun and feel safe. Once granted the opportunity to be in the Y.A.M. program, I was paired with my Artist mentor to work on a mural at the New Orleans East Library. She took me under her wing and put me at the forefront of this project. I also was interviewed and featured in local news articles for my participation in the mural. My eyes are now to see that I’m not only good, but I’m also great! I know my future is bright. The opportunity of attending college will give me an understanding of design creation, forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goals are to further my education in the hope of learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. The young people in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want young people to know possibilities are endless. You can be who you want to be, no matter your circumstances, background, or environment. If we inspire young people by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. I am now an ambitious, driven, and passionate young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams and give back to my community.

The particular obstacle I had to face in my life was extreme shyness. In elementary school, I was a shy child. It existed to the point that I wouldn’t ask teachers for help if I didn’t understand assignments. I wouldn’t seek the answers that I needed to get me through. In the second grade, my teacher recommended that I repeat the second grade. My parents agreed in hopes it would help me get on track. My mother put me in programs such as viola lessons, tutoring, and other things to help me deal with my shyness and anxiety. I suffered from low confidence in being held back and thought I wasn’t good enough. I didn’t honestly know what I would ever become. I started learning how to draw and paint a painting. To my surprise, I became good but still never thought I was great. Once I reached my junior year, I wanted to find a program where I could express my imagination. I came across this program called Y.A.M. Young Artist Movement. It is a program developed for young artists in New Orleans to have an internship to paint murals around New Orleans to help bring back light to the community. It's also a safe and fun program. Once granted the opportunity to be in the Y.A.M. program, I was paired with the New Orleans Artist Journey Allen to work on a mural at our New Orleans east library. Journey Allen took me under her wing and put me at the forefront of this project. Being a part of this project gave me the strength and confidence I needed. Acknowledged by my community, high school, and peers for this opportunity has encouraged me to believe in myself and my abilities. Whenever there’s a program or exhibit for the youth, she reaches out to me to be a part of it. I know I'm great, and my future is bright. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. You can be who you want to be despite your circumstances, background, or environment. I would love to build a creative art school. Kids of all ages will attend and express their creative outlets for free. The School will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. I‘m now an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School Cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, and cultures of visual arts. Overcoming my extreme shyness, I know now that anything is possible. I believe the obstacles I faced because of my shyness affected my progress in life for the better, and I’m a strong person because of it. My goal is to further my education at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

The Black American individual who has been a pillar of change in my life is my art mentor Journey Allen. Journey Allen is a New Orleans local artist that has made it her duty to help our community and especially the youth. She has put together numerous not nonprofit projects and events for black young people to get involved. Here in New Orleans, Louisiana, there isn’t much for the young people to get involved with, and many young people turn to the streets and commit crimes. For a long time, I suffered with low confidence in myself because I was, held back in the second grade, and I always thought I wasn’t good enough and didn’t know what I would ever become. I started learning how to draw and paint a painting. I became good but never thought I was great. During my junior year in high school, I came across this art program called Y.A.M. while searching the internet. It is a program developed for Young artists in New Orleans to have an internship to paint murals around New Orleans to help bring back light to the community and for youth to have fun and feel safe. Once granted the opportunity to be in the Y.A.M. program, I was paired with the Artist Journey Allen to work on a mural at the New Orleans East Library. Journey Allen took me under her wing and put me at the forefront of this project. I also was interviewed and featured in local news articles for my participation in the mural. Since then, she has encouraged me every step of the way. Whenever there’s a program or exhibit for the youth, she reaches out to me to be a part of it. She has honestly opened my eyes to see that I’m not only good, but I’m also great! I know my future is bright. Without Journey Allen's help and encouragement, I would have never thought I could become a professional artist and attend college. The opportunity of attending college will give me an understanding of design creation, forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goals are to further my education in the hope of learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know possibilities are endless. You can be who you want to be, no matter your circumstances, background, or environment. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. And I now know this because of New Orleans Black Artist “ Journey Allen” She has truly changed my life.

The particular difficulty I had to face in my life was extreme shyness. In elementary school, I was a shy child. It existed to the point that I wouldn’t ask teachers for help if I didn’t understand assignments. I wouldn’t seek the answers that I needed to get me through. In the second grade, my teacher recommended that I repeat the second grade. My parents agreed in hopes it would help me get on track. My mother put me in programs such as viola lessons, tutoring, and other things to help me deal with my shyness and anxiety. I eventually came out of my shell by my eighth-grade year. Going into my ninth-grade school year, I became more of a social butterfly and ran for Miss freshman for homecoming and won! Throughout my high school experience, I became more confident in myself and my abilities. I embraced my creative side and became good at creating art. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program, created for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. I Help with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for the New Orleans East Public Library. I was interviewed and featured in local news articles. I recently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. You can be who you want to be despite your circumstances, background, or environment. I would love to build a creative art school. Kids of all ages will attend and express their creative outlets for free. The School will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. I‘m now an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School Cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. This senior year, my peers voted as Homecoming Queen. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. Overcoming my extreme shyness, I know now that my future is bright. My goal is to further my education at a college or university. Overcoming my shyness has taught me that anything is possible. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

The particular difficulty I had to face in my life was extreme shyness. In elementary school, I was a shy child. It existed to the point that I wouldn’t ask teachers for help if I didn’t understand assignments. I wouldn’t seek the answers that I needed to get me through. In the second grade, my teacher recommended that I repeat the second grade. My parents agreed in hopes it would help me get on track. My mother put me in programs such as viola lessons, tutoring, and other things to help me deal with my shyness and anxiety. I eventually came out of my shell by my eighth-grade year. Going into my ninth-grade school year, I became more of a social butterfly and ran for Miss freshman for homecoming and won! Throughout my high school experience, I became more confident in myself and my abilities. I embraced my creative side and became good at creating art. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program, created for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. I Help with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans. I was interviewed and featured in local news articles. I recently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. You can be who you want to be despite your circumstances, background, or environment. I would love to build a Creative Art School where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. I‘m now an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School Cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. This senior year I was also voted Homecoming Queen. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. Overcoming my shyness has taught me that anything is possible. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people including my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them and educating the Youth Artist on tasks. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless and they can be who you want to be no matter their circumstances background or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. Growing up, I remember one book that my mother used to read to me, a poetry book titled “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou. I remember the strong and fun wording of the poem but most of all the eye-catching illustrations. I later learned the illustrations were by the late famous artists Jean Michel Basquiat. The artwork is exciting, and scary but sparked my imagination beautifully. I feel the inspiration from the poetic words and hypnotic illustrations have inspired me not only as an artist but as a strong person who never fears the unknown. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, and techniques I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams to brighten my future.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people including my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them and educating the Youth Artist on tasks. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless and they can be who you want to be no matter their circumstances background or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. Growing up, I remember one book that my mother used to read to me, a poetry book titled “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou. I remember the strong and fun wording of the poem but most of all the eye-catching illustrations. I later learned the illustrations were by the late famous artists Jean Michel Basquiat. The artwork is exciting, and scary but sparked my imagination beautifully. I feel the inspiration from the poetic words and hypnotic illustrations have inspired me not only as an artist but as a strong person who never fears the unknown. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, and techniques I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people including my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them and educating the Youth Artist on tasks. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless and they can be who you want to be no matter their circumstances background or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. Growing up, I remember one book that my mother used to read to me, a poetry book titled “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou. I remember the strong and fun wording of the poem but most of all the eye-catching illustrations. I later learned the illustrations were by the late famous artists Jean Michel Basquiat. The artwork is exciting, and scary but sparked my imagination beautifully. I feel the inspiration from the poetic words and hypnotic illustrations have inspired me not only as an artist but as a strong person who never fears the unknown. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, and techniques I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams!

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people including my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them and educating the Youth Artist on tasks. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless and they can be who you want to be no matter their circumstances background or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. Growing up, I remember one book that my mother used to read to me, a poetry book titled “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou. I remember the strong and fun wording of the poem but most of all the eye-catching illustrations. I later learned the illustrations were by the late famous artists Jean Michel Basquiat. The artwork is exciting, and scary but sparked my imagination beautifully. I feel the inspiration from the poetic words and hypnotic illustrations have inspired me not only as an artist but as a strong person who never fears the unknown. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain this scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, and techniques I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

I’m not and wasn't in the foster care system. My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. The attribute about myself that makes me unique is being creative. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people, especially my mother molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. You can be who you want to be no matter your circumstances, background, or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

The particular adversity I had to face in my life was extreme shyness. In elementary school, I was a shy child. It existed to the point that I wouldn’t ask teachers for help. I wouldn’t seek the answers that I needed to get me through and complete assignments correctly. Assignments correctly In the second grade, my teacher recommended that I be held back. My parents agreed in hopes it would help me get on track. My mother put me in different programs such as viola lessons, tutoring, and other things to help me deal with my shyness and anxiety. I eventually came out of my shell by my eighth-grade year. Going into my ninth-grade school year, I became more of a social butterfly and ran for Miss freshman for homecoming and won! Throughout my high school experience, I became more confident in myself and my abilities. I embraced my creative side and became good at creating art. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. You can be who you want to be no matter your circumstances, background, or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. I‘m now an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School Cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. This senior year I was also voted Homecoming Queen. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. The attribute about myself that makes me unique is my creativity. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people, especially my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless. You can be who you want to be no matter your circumstances, background, or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of visual art that I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people including my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them, educating the Youth Artist on tasks, and demonstrating respect and sensitivity for all the backgrounds of interns and staff. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless and they can be who you want to be no matter their circumstances background or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. Art has sparked my imagination beautifully. I feel all forms of art and visual art inspirations have inspired me not only as an artist but as a strong person to never fear the unknown. Art is limitless and that’s what a love about it the most. I am an ambitious, driven, and passionate young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the fine art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, techniques, and cultures of art that I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams to brighten my future.

My name is Aliyah Jolie Pflueger. I’m a Senior at Morris Jeff Community High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being surrounded by astonishingly creative people including my mother has molded me into who I’m today. Watching my mother create almost anything and see the ideas come to life amazed me. It wasn’t until I entered the 8th grade that I decided one day to doodle during my free time. To my surprise, I did a great job! My passion for the arts sparked. My 9th-grade year of high school at Morris Community High was a pivotal moment. My potential grew under the guidance of my art teacher Mr. Vaughn. I knew from there I wanted to become a professional Artist. He suggested finding other art programs in my city to pursue. I researched art programs outside of school. I received the opportunity of an internship with The Young Artist Movement (Y.A.M.) program that's set up for youth to participate in painting murals to bring happiness and light around the City of New Orleans. I became a Peer Leader in the Y.A.M program. Helping with concepts for projects and executing them and educating the Youth Artist on tasks. I have the pleasure of personally working with local New Orleans artist Journey Allen and many others on murals for New Orleans East Public Library and The Vote Building in New Orleans interviewed and featured in local news articles. I currently worked on a digital art project for the New Orleans Luna Fete Celebration with The Y.A.M. Program. I hope one day, my art can do the same for other young people like myself. I would love to give back to my community. The kids in my community, like myself, are put in a box and think they are limited to having a closed mindset in career goals. No one should ever feel limited. I want kids to know that the possibilities are endless and they can be who you want to be no matter their circumstances background or environment. I would love to build Creative Art Schools where kids of all ages can express their creative outlets for free. The Schools will base acceptance on their abilities and willingness to learn. Art inspiration can come from many places, such as your environment, elements, people, and other resources. If we inspire kids by giving them someone to look up to, an inspirational environment, or just something, it could change lives that can change the world. Growing up, I remember one book that my mother used to read to me, a poetry book titled “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou. I remember the strong and fun wording of the poem but most of all the eye-catching illustrations. I later learned the illustrations were by the late famous artists Jean Michel Basquiat. The artwork is exciting, and scary but sparked my imagination beautifully. I feel the inspiration from the poetic words and hypnotic illustrations have inspired me not only as an artist but as a strong person who never fears the unknown. I am an ambitious and driven young lady. I also display leadership by being a Morris Jeff High School cheerleader, showing kindness and respect for my peers, teachers, and administrators daily. I hope to obtain a scholarship to pursue professional courses in the art field. This opportunity will give me an understanding of design creation, different forms, and techniques I have yet to master. My goal is to now further my studies at a college or university. I hope to continue learning, growing, and accomplishing my dreams to brighten my future.