Our Story.

In 2014 a group of artists got together to form a Community Arts Camp for youth in South St Louis. Initially they wanted to provide a place for kids to spend time between the end of traditional summer camps and the start of the new school year. 

“We just really wanted to find something, or find a way to help children utilize their potential for something productive, and since we’re all artists, that’s what we know,” said founding member Pacia Anderson.

The project has since evolved into a character-building and life-skills workshop quietly disguised as an art camp. Anderson co-founded Cherokee Street Reach with Eric “Prospect” White, and many other local artists. Each artist brings different skills to their workshops, everything from painting and singing to yoga and break-dancing. These contributions help the group enact a somewhat subversive character-building philosophy. They set kids up with art projects that lead to lessons in skill-sharing, money management and long-term goal setting. 

At the end of each camp, the artists help the students form a pop-up gallery open to the public and they sell the work they’ve made. The artists try to teach the students about presentation and developing interest in the work through telling personal narratives related to the art. 

“Trusting our experience, trusting our expertise, and trusting each other’s gut,” has sustained and kept Cherokee Street Reach running said Anderson.

At the end of the day, it’s about the kids.