I am an artist from Southwest Detroit, deeply inspired by my upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. Through my paintings, I strive to memorialize absence, exploring themes of displacement, permanence, and belonging. My work is a tribute to my loved ones and has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Scarab Club and MOCAD. I earned my BFA from the College for Creative Studies, where I was honored as the merit-based valedictorian and received the prestigious Imre J. Molnar Award. Currently, I am a 2024 Emerging Artist Fellow with Playground Detroit and a 2025 Modern Ancient Brown Fellow. Currently committed to university of Michigan for arts. One of my most important goals is to engage with young people in the Southwest Detroit area, especially those who may feel disconnected from their cultural identity. Through artist talks, workshops, and mentorship, I plan to show them how art can serve as a tool for processing grief, understanding their history, and finding hope. I want them to see that their stories matter and that they have the power to shape their own narratives, both individually and collectively. By providing youth with the tools to express themselves, I hope to inspire them to use art as a catalyst for personal and community transformation. I will use the money to be able to hold these workshops and continue my education. I want to see myself be able to become stable enough to have children and not worry about their future. to be able to be present in their lives and allow them to accomplish their goals. Continue to create work that share the stories of displacement and immigration need to be highlighted. I hope to shed light on the humanity of these experiences and provide a platform for members of the Southwest Detroit community to speak about the prevalence of these social issues and their far-reaching impacts on the community as a whole. My goal is to amplify these stories, allowing them to take up the space they deserve. Hopefully, this will spark conversations and inspire actions to protect and support this community, especially as gentrification continues to encroach and push families away from the heart of our neighborhoods. Through my art, I aim to preserve the legacy of the immigrant experience, particularly within the context of my community. I will continue to work on projects that reflect the tenderness and complexity of migration, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants today. My goal is to document these stories, creating a lasting visual record that will not only honor those who came before us but also serve as a resource for future generations to learn from, ensuring that the stories of immigration and displacement are never erased.

I am an artist from Southwest Detroit, deeply inspired by my upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. Through my paintings, I strive to memorialize absence, exploring themes of displacement, permanence, and belonging. My work is a tribute to my loved ones and has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Scarab Club and MOCAD. I earned my BFA from the College for Creative Studies, where I was honored as the merit-based valedictorian and received the prestigious Imre J. Molnar Award. Currently, I am a 2024 Emerging Artist Fellow with Playground Detroit and a 2025 Modern Ancient Brown Fellow. Currently committed to university of Michigan for arts. One of my most important goals is to engage with young people in the Southwest Detroit area, especially those who may feel disconnected from their cultural identity. Through artist talks, workshops, and mentorship, I plan to show them how art can serve as a tool for processing grief, understanding their history, and finding hope. I want them to see that their stories matter and that they have the power to shape their own narratives, both individually and collectively. By providing youth with the tools to express themselves, I hope to inspire them to use art as a catalyst for personal and community transformation. I will use the money to be able to hold these workshops and continue my education. I want to see myself be able to become stable enough to have children and not worry about their future. to be able to be present in their lives and allow them to accomplish their goals. Continue to create work that share the stories of displacement and immigration need to be highlighted. I hope to shed light on the humanity of these experiences and provide a platform for members of the Southwest Detroit community to speak about the prevalence of these social issues and their far-reaching impacts on the community as a whole. My goal is to amplify these stories, allowing them to take up the space they deserve. Hopefully, this will spark conversations and inspire actions to protect and support this community, especially as gentrification continues to encroach and push families away from the heart of our neighborhoods. Through my art, I aim to preserve the legacy of the immigrant experience, particularly within the context of my community. I will continue to work on projects that reflect the tenderness and complexity of migration, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants today. My goal is to document these stories, creating a lasting visual record that will not only honor those who came before us but also serve as a resource for future generations to learn from, ensuring that the stories of immigration and displacement are never erased.

I am an artist from Southwest Detroit, deeply inspired by my upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. Through my paintings, I strive to memorialize absence, exploring themes of displacement, permanence, and belonging. My work is a tribute to my loved ones and has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Scarab Club and MOCAD. I earned my BFA from the College for Creative Studies, where I was honored as the merit-based valedictorian and received the prestigious Imre J. Molnar Award. Currently, I am a 2024 Emerging Artist Fellow with Playground Detroit and a 2025 Modern Ancient Brown Fellow. Currently committed to university of Michigan for arts. One of my most important goals is to engage with young people in the Southwest Detroit area, especially those who may feel disconnected from their cultural identity. Through artist talks, workshops, and mentorship, I plan to show them how art can serve as a tool for processing grief, understanding their history, and finding hope. I want them to see that their stories matter and that they have the power to shape their own narratives, both individually and collectively. By providing youth with the tools to express themselves, I hope to inspire them to use art as a catalyst for personal and community transformation. I will use the money to be able to hold these workshops and continue my education. I want to see myself be able to become stable enough to have children and not worry about their future. to be able to be present in their lives and allow them to accomplish their goals. Continue to create work that share the stories of displacement and immigration need to be highlighted. I hope to shed light on the humanity of these experiences and provide a platform for members of the Southwest Detroit community to speak about the prevalence of these social issues and their far-reaching impacts on the community as a whole. My goal is to amplify these stories, allowing them to take up the space they deserve. Hopefully, this will spark conversations and inspire actions to protect and support this community, especially as gentrification continues to encroach and push families away from the heart of our neighborhoods. Through my art, I aim to preserve the legacy of the immigrant experience, particularly within the context of my community. I will continue to work on projects that reflect the tenderness and complexity of migration, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants today. My goal is to document these stories, creating a lasting visual record that will not only honor those who came before us but also serve as a resource for future generations to learn from, ensuring that the stories of immigration and displacement are never erased.

I am an artist from Southwest Detroit, deeply inspired by my upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. Through my paintings, I strive to memorialize absence, exploring themes of displacement, permanence, and belonging. My work is a tribute to my loved ones and has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Scarab Club and MOCAD. I earned my BFA from the College for Creative Studies, where I was honored as the merit-based valedictorian and received the prestigious Imre J. Molnar Award. Currently, I am a 2024 Emerging Artist Fellow with Playground Detroit and a 2025 Modern Ancient Brown Fellow. Currently committed to university of Michigan for arts. One of my most important goals is to engage with young people in the Southwest Detroit area, especially those who may feel disconnected from their cultural identity. Through artist talks, workshops, and mentorship, I plan to show them how art can serve as a tool for processing grief, understanding their history, and finding hope. I want them to see that their stories matter and that they have the power to shape their own narratives, both individually and collectively. By providing youth with the tools to express themselves, I hope to inspire them to use art as a catalyst for personal and community transformation. I will use the money to be able to hold these workshops and continue my education. I want to see myself be able to become stable enough to have children and not worry about their future. to be able to be present in their lives and allow them to accomplish their goals. Continue to create work that share the stories of displacement and immigration need to be highlighted. I hope to shed light on the humanity of these experiences and provide a platform for members of the Southwest Detroit community to speak about the prevalence of these social issues and their far-reaching impacts on the community as a whole. My goal is to amplify these stories, allowing them to take up the space they deserve. Hopefully, this will spark conversations and inspire actions to protect and support this community, especially as gentrification continues to encroach and push families away from the heart of our neighborhoods. Through my art, I aim to preserve the legacy of the immigrant experience, particularly within the context of my community. I will continue to work on projects that reflect the tenderness and complexity of migration, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants today. My goal is to document these stories, creating a lasting visual record that will not only honor those who came before us but also serve as a resource for future generations to learn from, ensuring that the stories of immigration and displacement are never erased.

I am an artist from Southwest Detroit, deeply inspired by my upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. Through my paintings, I strive to memorialize absence, exploring themes of displacement, permanence, and belonging. My work is a tribute to my loved ones and has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Scarab Club and MOCAD. I earned my BFA from the College for Creative Studies, where I was honored as the merit-based valedictorian and received the prestigious Imre J. Molnar Award. Currently, I am a 2024 Emerging Artist Fellow with Playground Detroit and a 2025 Modern Ancient Brown Fellow. Currently committed to university of Michigan for arts. One of my most important goals is to engage with young people in the Southwest Detroit area, especially those who may feel disconnected from their cultural identity. Through artist talks, workshops, and mentorship, I plan to show them how art can serve as a tool for processing grief, understanding their history, and finding hope. I want them to see that their stories matter and that they have the power to shape their own narratives, both individually and collectively. By providing youth with the tools to express themselves, I hope to inspire them to use art as a catalyst for personal and community transformation. As someone who constantly revisits my past because it is where my loved ones still exist, I often think about lineage. I think about the way I long for my homeland, and how my ancestors share that same longing. Over the years, I’ve worked extensively in my community, Southwest Detroit, and have heard countless stories about the loved ones we leave behind—the versions of ourselves we can no longer access, the smells, foods, and colors we can only dream of. I think about how the mountains still call my name, how my mother only listens to music when I’m home, and how she ends every phone call with the reminder that someone is still waiting for me. I see myself in every face I encounter in Southwest Detroit—the homes we leave behind in search of stability for our families. Southwest Detroit has a tenderness that reflects the transformative nature of the immigrant experience, and it is a story I wish to share, to bring light to, and to document for our children to look back on. Recently, I’ve had the honor of speaking with Latino students and visiting different schools to give artist talks about my parents’ deportation and how art has been a catalyst for hope. Opening up about my personal journey in spaces where others share a similar grief has deepened my understanding of how crucial it is to give voice to these experiences, to keep speaking for those who feel voiceless. Art as a tool for hope, to help others process their grief and to give voice to those who feel silenced, is invaluable. It’s especially powerful when engaging with young people. who may feel a deep connection to your story and see parts of their own journey reflected in yours. Art can be an incredibly healing medium. storytelling, visual art, community events, make impact that could help create lasting change and preserve the legacies of those who are often erased. I will use the money to be able to hold these workshops and continue my education. I want to see myself be able to become stable enough to have children and not worry about their future. to be able to be present in their lives and allow them to accomplish their goals. Continue to create work that share the stories of displacement and immigration need to be highlighted. I hope to shed light on the humanity of these experiences and provide a platform for members of the Southwest Detroit community to speak about the prevalence of these social issues and their far-reaching impacts on the community as a whole. My goal is to amplify these stories, allowing them to take up the space they deserve. Hopefully, this will spark conversations and inspire actions to protect and support this community, especially as gentrification continues to encroach and push families away from the heart of our neighborhoods. Through my art, I aim to preserve the legacy of the immigrant experience, particularly within the context of my community. I will continue to work on projects that reflect the tenderness and complexity of migration, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants today. My goal is to document these stories, creating a lasting visual record that will not only honor those who came before us but also serve as a resource for future generations to learn from, ensuring that the stories of immigration and displacement are never erased.

I am an artist from Southwest Detroit, deeply inspired by my upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. Through my paintings, I strive to memorialize absence, exploring themes of displacement, permanence, and belonging. My work is a tribute to my loved ones and has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Scarab Club and MOCAD. I earned my BFA from the College for Creative Studies, where I was honored as the merit-based valedictorian and received the prestigious Imre J. Molnar Award. Currently, I am a 2024 Emerging Artist Fellow with Playground Detroit and a 2025 Modern Ancient Brown Fellow. Currently committed to university of Michigan for arts. One of my most important goals is to engage with young people in the Southwest Detroit area, especially those who may feel disconnected from their cultural identity. Through artist talks, workshops, and mentorship, I plan to show them how art can serve as a tool for processing grief, understanding their history, and finding hope. I want them to see that their stories matter and that they have the power to shape their own narratives, both individually and collectively. By providing youth with the tools to express themselves, I hope to inspire them to use art as a catalyst for personal and community transformation. I will use the money to be able to hold these workshops and continue my education. I want to see myself be able to become stable enough to have children and not worry about their future. to be able to be present in their lives and allow them to accomplish their goals. Continue to create work that share the stories of displacement and immigration need to be highlighted. I hope to shed light on the humanity of these experiences and provide a platform for members of the Southwest Detroit community to speak about the prevalence of these social issues and their far-reaching impacts on the community as a whole. My goal is to amplify these stories, allowing them to take up the space they deserve. Hopefully, this will spark conversations and inspire actions to protect and support this community, especially as gentrification continues to encroach and push families away from the heart of our neighborhoods. Through my art, I aim to preserve the legacy of the immigrant experience, particularly within the context of my community. I will continue to work on projects that reflect the tenderness and complexity of migration, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants today. My goal is to document these stories, creating a lasting visual record that will not only honor those who came before us but also serve as a resource for future generations to learn from, ensuring that the stories of immigration and displacement are never erased.

I am an artist from Southwest Detroit, deeply inspired by my upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. Through my paintings, I strive to memorialize absence, exploring themes of displacement, permanence, and belonging. My work is a tribute to my loved ones and has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Scarab Club and MOCAD. I earned my BFA from the College for Creative Studies, where I was honored as the merit-based valedictorian and received the prestigious Imre J. Molnar Award. Currently, I am a 2024 Emerging Artist Fellow with Playground Detroit and a 2025 Modern Ancient Brown Fellow. Currently committed to university of Michigan for arts. One of my most important goals is to engage with young people in the Southwest Detroit area, especially those who may feel disconnected from their cultural identity. Through artist talks, workshops, and mentorship, I plan to show them how art can serve as a tool for processing grief, understanding their history, and finding hope. I want them to see that their stories matter and that they have the power to shape their own narratives, both individually and collectively. By providing youth with the tools to express themselves, I hope to inspire them to use art as a catalyst for personal and community transformation. I will use the money to be able to hold these workshops and continue my education. I want to see myself be able to become stable enough to have children and not worry about their future. to be able to be present in their lives and allow them to accomplish their goals. Continue to create work that share the stories of displacement and immigration need to be highlighted. I hope to shed light on the humanity of these experiences and provide a platform for members of the Southwest Detroit community to speak about the prevalence of these social issues and their far-reaching impacts on the community as a whole. My goal is to amplify these stories, allowing them to take up the space they deserve. Hopefully, this will spark conversations and inspire actions to protect and support this community, especially as gentrification continues to encroach and push families away from the heart of our neighborhoods. Through my art, I aim to preserve the legacy of the immigrant experience, particularly within the context of my community. I will continue to work on projects that reflect the tenderness and complexity of migration, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants today. My goal is to document these stories, creating a lasting visual record that will not only honor those who came before us but also serve as a resource for future generations to learn from, ensuring that the stories of immigration and displacement are never erased.

I am an artist from Southwest Detroit, deeply inspired by my upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. Through my paintings, I strive to memorialize absence, exploring themes of displacement, permanence, and belonging. My work is a tribute to my loved ones and has been exhibited at esteemed venues such as The Scarab Club and MOCAD. I earned my BFA from the College for Creative Studies, where I was honored as the merit-based valedictorian and received the prestigious Imre J. Molnar Award. Currently, I am a 2024 Emerging Artist Fellow with Playground Detroit and a 2025 Modern Ancient Brown Fellow. Currently committed to university of Michigan for arts. One of my most important goals is to engage with young people in the Southwest Detroit area, especially those who may feel disconnected from their cultural identity. Through artist talks, workshops, and mentorship, I plan to show them how art can serve as a tool for processing grief, understanding their history, and finding hope. I want them to see that their stories matter and that they have the power to shape their own narratives, both individually and collectively. By providing youth with the tools to express themselves, I hope to inspire them to use art as a catalyst for personal and community transformation. I will use the money to be able to hold these workshops and continue my education. I want to see myself be able to become stable enough to have children and not worry about their future. to be able to be present in their lives and allow them to accomplish their goals. Continue to create work that share the stories of displacement and immigration need to be highlighted. I hope to shed light on the humanity of these experiences and provide a platform for members of the Southwest Detroit community to speak about the prevalence of these social issues and their far-reaching impacts on the community as a whole. My goal is to amplify these stories, allowing them to take up the space they deserve. Hopefully, this will spark conversations and inspire actions to protect and support this community, especially as gentrification continues to encroach and push families away from the heart of our neighborhoods. Through my art, I aim to preserve the legacy of the immigrant experience, particularly within the context of my community. I will continue to work on projects that reflect the tenderness and complexity of migration, while also addressing the ongoing challenges faced by immigrants today. My goal is to document these stories, creating a lasting visual record that will not only honor those who came before us but also serve as a resource for future generations to learn from, ensuring that the stories of immigration and displacement are never erased.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

I am inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community. With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

Southwest Detroit native raised in Metro Detroit and Jalisco, Mexico, Julianna Sanroman Rojas is a visual artist candidate to receive her BFA and teaching certificate from College for Creative Studies. I was inspired by the positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community, and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

I was inspired by positive and negative experiences of being separated from my family due to deportation. I am very fortunate to be in a space that allows me to find myself and reclaim my heritage. I used traditional narratives throughout my work, which will enable me to challenge my past and attempt to reimagine my future. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 16 years now. I am choosing to reclaim my heritage and reconnect to what has been taken for me affirming love and healing. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I am exploring how to carry my home with me in my work. Look into my past as something I can recognize as an aspect of my life that is mine yet is not, Longing for what I had and realizing I can longer live there. My experiences with immigration, heartbreak, and transitions allow me to explore these constant shifts and examine myself breaking down and rebuilding in new ways. These homes, in my memory, are homes of love, isolation, tenderness, and violence. I am inspired by the city I live in, working with my community, and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. I've been working at a Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation; With my degree, I want to be an Art Educator and pursue higher education, participate in galleries and attend an artist residency. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers have done for me in the past. I hope to continue making art for myself as I become myself over again, connect with my family community and make art accessible to the youth who inspire me constantly.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my high school teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it, and listen to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my high school teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it, and listen to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my high school teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it, and listen to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

I want you to imagine waking up one morning, and your father is just gone. I want you to imagine going home telling yourself and those around you that everything will be OK when you are not even sure about that, And try to sleep every night only to find yourself lying awake for hours because you can’t sleep that worry will end you And it will try to break you You can say well this is too bad. Still, it’s just something you are watching on tv, and you can turn it off. You can go about your life. I am thankful now for the time that I spent without my parents; I had to find ways to help me cope with the emotional and mental anguish and pain that pushed me to keep exploring, I lived in fear, but still, I think I had a better life than most I don’t feel lost, I know who I am I know what I’m supposed to be doing, and I embrace that. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be motivated continuously by their absence. Growing up away from my parents always encouraged me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my high school teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access, and listen to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. I wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. The unconventional techniques inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

I want you to imagine waking up one morning, and your father is just gone. I want you to imagine going home telling yourself and those around you that everything will be OK when you are not even sure about that, And try to sleep every night only to find yourself lying awake for hours because you can’t sleep that worry will end you And it will try to break you You can say well this is too bad. Still, it’s just something you are watching on tv, and you can turn it off. You can go about your life. I am thankful now for the time that I spent without my parents; I had to find ways to help me cope with the emotional and mental anguish and pain that pushed me to keep exploring, I lived in fear, but still, I think I had a better life than most I don’t feel lost, I know who I am I know what I’m supposed to be doing, and I embrace that. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be motivated continuously by their absence. Growing up away from my parents always encouraged me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my high school teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access, and listen to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. I wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. The unconventional techniques inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

I want you to imagine waking up one morning, and your father is just gone. I want you to imagine going home telling yourself and those around you that everything will be OK when you are not even sure about that, And try to sleep every night only to find yourself lying awake for hours because you can’t sleep that worry will end you And it will try to break you You can say well this is too bad. Still, it’s just something you are watching on tv, and you can turn it off. You can go about your life. I am thankful now for the time that I spent without my parents; I had to find ways to help me cope with the emotional and mental anguish and pain that pushed me to keep exploring, I lived in fear, but still, I think I had a better life than most I don’t feel lost, I know who I am I know what I’m supposed to be doing, and I embrace that. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be motivated continuously by their absence. Growing up away from my parents always encouraged me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my high school teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access, and listen to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. I wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. The unconventional techniques inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

I want you to imagine waking up one morning, and your father is just gone. I want you to imagine going home telling yourself and those around you that everything will be OK when you are not even sure about that, And try to sleep every night only to find yourself lying awake for hours because you can’t sleep that worry will end you And it will try to break you You can say well this is too bad. Still, it’s just something you are watching on tv, and you can turn it off. You can go about your life. I am thankful now for the time that I spent without my parents; I had to find ways to help me cope with the emotional and mental anguish and pain that pushed me to keep exploring, I lived in fear, but still, I think I had a better life than most I don’t feel lost, I know who I am I know what I’m supposed to be doing, and I embrace that. My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be motivated continuously by their absence. Growing up away from my parents always encouraged me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my high school teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access, and listen to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. I wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. The unconventional techniques inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me.I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and I hope to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and hoping to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.

My parent's deportation inspires me every day to create art. To push me creatively and to heal from the pain of constantly missing them. I have lived away from my parents for 12 years now. To receive a better education and be constantly motivated by their absence. I live in Southwest Detroit, a community that is best known for being Mexicantown. I am inspired by the city I live in. Working with my community and I hope to use this scholarship to succeed in getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA focused in Art Teacher Education from College for Creative Studies. Growing up away from my parents always motivated me to do the best I could in school. My teachers became parental figures; I always looked up to them and felt very comfortable and distracted in an academic setting. I can genuinely say I would not be who I am without my highschool teachers. My teachers would push me to talk to the school counselor, provide meals/clothing when I didn’t have access to it and listened to me. I grew apart from art; I think being angry and upset over things I could not control and the frustration of feeling like art always had to be “perfect. My art teacher gave me full creative freedom, which opened a door where I did not feel limited to rules and grading standards. As well as introducing me to fine art, women art figures, and book recommendations. I loved learning about that and wanted to share what I learned. Her classroom became my haven. I would wake up early to paint before school would begin or stay as late as possible to continue working on things. No one forgets meaningful teachers. Her being able to take the time to offer extra help was something I respect. The unconventional techniques she used inspired me, and I aim to bring the same passion for innovative ways to learn to my classroom. For almost two years now, I’ve been working at a non-profit in Southwest Detroit. Before Covid-19, The kids I would paint with would share the hardships they were facing or just how they felt on that day and how it felt even better to listen and learn from them. To see them feel fulfilled in their passion. It clicked; I enjoyed days where I saw the kids and felt like I had a sense of purpose. I want to share my love of art and pass that off as teachers in my past have done for me.