How This Arts Nonprofit Offers Free, Bilingual Arts Education to Southeast L.A. Kids

This story is part of a series of stories and education resources featuring Compton and its surrounding neighborhoods and communities.

As an educator, classical pianist and Lynwood native, Dakota McMahand knows how important arts education is and how few opportunities exist for families of color to access it in southeast Los Angeles.

"Systemic structural racism in our primarily Black and Brown working-class communities has left families with little to no options to provide quality arts education for their young children," she says.

That's why she founded Budding Artists, a nonprofit arts organization that provides free, high-quality, process-based arts education to families with kids ages 0-5.

As one of the only Black-founded and people of color-led childhood arts nonprofit organizations in the "vibrant and resilient" southeast Los Angeles community, Budding Artists serves more than 2,500 children and adults who, McMahand says, deal with poverty, food insecurity, health disparities, the digital divide and little to no arts programs for young children.

"There are no major museums in our community, as the closest major museums are located in downtown Los Angeles or downtown Long Beach, which are both far away and not easily accessible, as many members rely heavily on public transportation," McMahand says. "Our community has no local arts council, few nonprofit art spaces, galleries, and very limited art education programs. Local schools have become incredibly reliant on external organizations to provide free or low-cost arts programming for their students."

McMahand got her start in the arts at 13 years old, taking piano lessons at the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus. This initial exposure helped shape her academic and professional career as a performing and visual artist, educator and nonprofit founder. McMahand's experience came full circle when the Department of Cultural Affairs hired her for her first job as a piano instructor at the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus, where she took lessons when she was younger.

She reflects on how important mentorship has been for her at Budding Artists.

"It's amazing to see how many years later [Glenna Avila] not only was a powerful mentor in my life, she has supported my vision to expand arts programming to young children as a founding board member of Budding Artists," McMahand says of Glenna Avila, an artist and artistic director who created the Community Arts Partnership, a California Institute of the Arts program. Avila now works with Budding Artists.

McMahand started Budding Artists in 2018 as a passion project inspired by the transformative power that the arts had in her life. The organization is a response to a void she saw in her community.

"Our philosophy is making sure the child is central to their own learning," McMahand explains, "to follow their own interests, not some guided or scripted project."

She says process-based learning helps the child develop their own set of skills and their self-confidence. Rather than focusing on the end goal of creating an artful masterpiece, Budding Artists focuses on the whole child. Programming aligns with California Visual and Performing Arts Standards (VAPA).

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"The Budding Artists education team designs curriculum to create learning experiences that guide the conversation to promote authentic thinking, inclusivity, creativity and problem-solving, which are all necessary, critical life skills needed in the STEAM fields," McMahand says.

Implementing critical arts pedagogy, culturally responsive teaching and student empowerment is key. Cultural relevance and community representation are highlighted in curriculum and staffing, according to the founder. For example, all instruction and written materials in the program are provided in English and Spanish to support the community's bilingual members and amplify the benefits of bilingual and biliterate education.

"Developing a child's native language helps to nurture a foundation for reading and writing, which is essential for young learners," McMahand says.

Hiring people of color is a priority for the organization, as shown in personnel and through the paid mentorship programs for high school and college students that Budding Artists offers. McMahand wants to create pipelines for her community to explore future careers in the arts.

"It is vital that children see artists who look like them reflected in all aspects of the work we do," she says.

Budding Artists also creates programming that exposes children to literacy development and emotional, physical and cultural development. Their programs have helped children process their emotions and help reduce anxiety, which has risen sharply in children and adults since 2020.

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"Art is therapeutic and healing; we have received feedback from numerous parents over the years indicating that the classes have brought their child happiness, joy and confidence," says McMahand.

She says one parent, in reference to an online program offered in December 2020, said, "My daughter often gets anxiety when asked to read for the class (Zoom), but participating in these art classes has really helped her come out of her shell!

One of the organization's major programs is the Summer Exploration Program, which became virtual in 2021 due to COVID-19. The six-week, tuition-free initiative provides learning experiences where 3-5-year-old students make art to create meaning and build a new understanding of STEAM disciplines. The program culminates with an exhibition that features live music, a silent auction, a maker space and more. The 2021 exhibition also went virtual with Magic of Play, where a total of 24 young artists ages 3-5 created 54 pieces around the theme of what happens when children are given a chance to exercise creativity.

In addition to the Summer Exploration Program, Budding Artists has led several community-based art initiatives, including a curated installation of physical artwork that people can find at the Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center to help support patients who have experienced trauma or life-changing illness. The organization also offersadult art workshops.

McMahand says Budding Artists has contributed to a positive movement in the area.

"For the past few years, the area of southeast Los Angeles has undergone a renaissance period in which many local creatives are creating their own spaces, programming, expanding public art and exhibitions to uplift our community," she says. "The arts have been critical in lifting the spirits of our citizens and supporting its social and emotional health and wellbeing."

1/6 A child holds a sculpture made out of purple and green play dough in his hand. | Courtesy of Budding Artists

2/6 A child wearing a pink cap paints on a piece of paper at a Budding Artists event. | Courtesy of Budding Artists

3/6 A group of children and facilitators show off their artistic creations on a Zoom call. | Courtesy of Budding Artists

4/6 A child wearing a Budding Artists t-shirt smiles at the camera. | Courtesy of Budding Artists

5/6 A smiling child wears gloves as she holds a box from Budding Artists filled with art supplies. | Courtesy of Budding Artists

6/6 A child shows off an art piece on gray paper. | Courtesy of Budding Artists

In addition to McMahand balancing the time and funding constraints of running Budding Artists and her full-time job in administration at a local college, external factors have taken a toll on the group's mission. COVID-19 has impacted one in every six residents near the organization's primary location in Lynwood. Last week, the Hawthorne Arts Complex, where the organization has one of its studio spaces, announced it would be closing in 30 days, displacing Budding Artists and more than 100 artists housed there.

"This is a grassroots organization, it was created as a way to give back to our community, and unfortunately, with the pandemic, this small, community-led group faced hard funding issues," she says.

McMahand says she hopes to continue doing Budding Artists' work despite challenges.

"Last month the organization received two grants from the California Arts Council, which included a Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief grant intended to provide relief funding to arts and cultural organizations who have experienced economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic," she says. "We're grateful for that state funding; without it, we would have had to close our doors. We hope the future comes with more funding!"

She invites individuals to learn more about ways to get involved with Budding Artists by signing up for any of the workshops below, volunteering and supporting the organization's membership program at Budding-Artists.org and on Instagram @BuddingArtistsLA.

Upcoming Workshops

Event information can be found at the Budding Artists website.

• Photography Workshop | March 12, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., South Gate Museum & Art Gallery, 8680 California Ave, South Gate, CA 90280. Register online.
• Photography Workshop | March 19, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., South Gate Museum & Art Gallery, 8680 California Ave, South Gate, CA 90280. Register online.
• COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic + Abstract Art | March 15, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wilson Elementary, 11700 School St, Lynwood, CA 90262, USA. Drop-in event.
• COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic + Abstract Art | March 17, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Mark Twain Elementary, 12315 Thorson Ave, Lynwood, CA 90262, USA. Drop-in event.
• Lynwood Unified School District Arts Festival & District Art Showcase | April 30, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2p.m., Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School, 5246 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Lynwood, CA 90262