Today I am reflecting on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and how his work shapes my thinking about Brush Fire as a tool for social justice. Dr. King said, “Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” I feel the truth of this quote in my heart. We all benefit from exposure to a multitude of perspectives, be they political, artistic, or religious. And we all become stronger when our thoughts and feelings are respected in the public sphere.

Unfortunately, many of Brush Fire’s students experience numerous socio-economic barriers that impede success. They experience higher levels of poverty, violence, pregnancy, and high-school dropout rates. Our black and Latino students are three times more likely than white students to attend a “dropout factory”—a school with graduation rates of 60% or less. As dropout rates rise, so does the potential for our students to engage in crime and live in poverty as adults. Being incarcerated at a higher proportion, the voices of people of color are effectively removed from the public sphere and we all are poorer as a result.

These staggering statistics demonstrate the crucial need for our students to engage in activities that develop resilience. Resilience is a compilation of personal strengths, such as self-esteem, a sense of purpose, and a sense of belonging, that help young people combat risk factors and adapt positively to negative environmental influences. They also need activities that engage their interests, boost learning, and support overall healthy youth development.

Brush Fire aims to shore up our students’ resilience by helping them develop social competencies, such as self-esteem, self-control, collaboration, and empathy, that will keep them out of jail and participating in our communities. It is my sincere hope that the more they trust their creativity as they paint, the more they trust their creativity when they are out in the world, giving us all the gift of their unique perspective and the fruits of their action in the world.

click here to watch an artist at work, inspired by Dr. King’s famous speech.