I'm currently the lead coordinator of a youth-oriented artist group called "Manga Arts Studio." Our mission is to establish a Chicago-based arts community of young creators who draw in the manga-art style.

The studio is made up of 15-25 Chicago high school students who meet weekly to move forward on projects. The program has been given a location and time by the kind artists at Agitator Gallery in Chicago. They provide us with us with a key and free use of their gallery space for 5 hours each week.

Collaboratively, the studio votes on one annual story-project that incorporates writing, drawing and public art events/performances. This year's project is titled "CPS 2099," a series of illustrated stories where the young artists depict their personal issues with the Chicago Public School system in a dystopian futuristic setting.