USA Health Project Inspire presents 'Arts for Justice: Amplifying Youth Voices'

Step into the powerful world of youth expression and resilience through Project Inspire’s participant-created exhibit, “Arts for Justice: Amplifying Youth Voices.” This vibrant showcase highlights pottery, murals, and photovoice – each piece telling a story of transformation, courage, and hope.    

The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will be on display from Aug. 6 to Sept. 7 at the USA Archaeology Museum, 6050 USA Dr. S. on the campus of the University of South Alabama.  

Created by participants in Project Inspire, USA Health’s injury prevention and youth empowerment program, the artwork reflects months of personal growth through mentorship, education, and creative exploration. Project Inspire serves justice-involved youth, guiding them through a curriculum rooted in healing, confidence-building, and life skills like financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career development.    

“The exhibit gives our young people the opportunity not just to tell their stories, but to reclaim them,” said Ashley Williams Hogue, M.D., founder of Project Inspire, director of the Center for Healthy Communities, and trauma surgeon at USA Health. “We hope visitors leave inspired by our program participants’ honesty, strength, and creativity." 

 Featured art forms intentionally prompt students to process past experiences and envision a brighter future. In one project, teens created Kintsugi, a Japanese art form that involves mending broken pottery bowls with gold to symbolize beauty in imperfection and healing after hardship.  

“This experience leaves participants with the lesson that even when you feel broken, you can still take the pieces of your life and create something beautiful because you are still worthy,” said Daphney Portis, program coordinator for Project Inspire, reflecting on the art creation process. In another project, participants used photos to illustrate their responses to thoughtful questions that helped them provide insight into the challenges they see in the community and solutions to overcoming those challenges.  

The art projects were funded by the USA Office of Research and Economic Development. 

Project Inspire aims to reduce the rates of violence by equipping and empowering youth to overcome obstacles and barriers they may face. The five-pillar curriculum includes trauma-informed care training and confidence-building, educational and professional development, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and intensive mentorship.   

Among the program’s activities are resume creation, mock interviews, CPR and Stop the Bleed training, college tours, cooking classes, sports and team building, discussions with business owners, field trips, and more.

Learn more about Project Inspire.