Find your voice. Cross your bridge. Write your way forward.

Arts For At Risk Youth is a transformative arts program using creative writing, rhythm, and cultural arts to help youth reclaim identity, belonging, and leadership.

AFARY is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing its mission through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Arts For At Risk Youth is a California based, transformative arts program using creative writing, rhythm, and cultural arts to help youth reclaim identity, belonging, and leadership. AFARY is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing its mission through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

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Our Programs

Youth labeled “at-risk” are often seeking belonging, loyalty, and structure in the absence of family and community support.

Our Rites of Passage & Transformative Arts Program offers structured pathways rooted in four foundational pillars.
Mountain hut on a sunset in Rila mountain

Creative Expression

Community Connection

Culture

AFARY draws on Indigenous wisdom traditions to ground youth in identity, dignity, and purpose through cultural teachings and ceremonial frameworks.

Mountain hut on a sunset in Rila mountain

Creative Expression

Community Connection

Culture

AFARY draws on Indigenous wisdom traditions to ground youth in identity, dignity, and purpose through cultural teachings and ceremonial frameworks.

Community Connection

Holistic Wellness

THE DRUM CIRCLE

The Drum Circle is a sacred communal space where rhythm, storytelling, and vulnerability foster healing, emotional expression, and collective courage.

Community Connection

Holistic Wellness

THE DRUM CIRCLE

The Drum Circle is a sacred communal space where rhythm, storytelling, and vulnerability foster healing, emotional expression, and collective courage.

Table with open book, tea and pillows spread around

Creative Expression

Mindful Prescence

The Arts

AFARY uses journaling, creative writing, music, dance, and visual arts to help youth reclaim their voice and transform their personal narratives.

Table with open book, tea and pillows spread around

Creative Expression

Mindful Prescence

The Arts

AFARY uses journaling, creative writing, music, dance, and visual arts to help youth reclaim their voice and transform their personal narratives.

A beautiful young woman smiling at the camera on a mountain field

Holistic Wellness

Mindful Prescence

Nature

Nature-based experiences reconnect youth to land, body, and spirit while expanding imagination, curiosity, and life vision through immersive outdoor rites of passage.

A beautiful young woman smiling at the camera on a mountain field

Holistic Wellness

Mindful Prescence

Nature

Nature-based experiences reconnect youth to land, body, and spirit while expanding imagination, curiosity, and life vision through immersive outdoor rites of passage.

Our services

Our Signature Programs

Our programs are designed to inspire creativity, foster growth, and empower individuals to explore new paths and possibilities.

Learn More About Us

Learn More About Us

Woman sitting in sunlight with eyes closed, wearing relaxed neutral clothing in a peaceful setting.
A bright yoga studio with a girl practicing gentle restorative yoga.
A group breathwork session in a tranquil indoor retreat space.

Culture

AFARY’s Culture pillar provides youth with cultural grounding through Indigenous teachings, ceremonial practices, and ancestral wisdom traditions that cultivate identity, dignity, and purpose. By reconnecting youth to lineage and cultural frameworks, AFARY supports healthy self-identification and replaces narratives of low self-worth with pride and belonging.

Ancestral Identity Development

Ceremonial Rites of Passage

Purpose & Self-Worth Building

The Drum Circle

The Arts

Woman sitting in sunlight with eyes closed, wearing relaxed neutral clothing in a peaceful setting.
A bright yoga studio with a girl practicing gentle restorative yoga.
A group breathwork session in a tranquil indoor retreat space.

Culture

AFARY’s Culture pillar provides youth with cultural grounding through Indigenous teachings, ceremonial practices, and ancestral wisdom traditions that cultivate identity, dignity, and purpose. By reconnecting youth to lineage and cultural frameworks, AFARY supports healthy self-identification and replaces narratives of low self-worth with pride and belonging.

Ancestral Identity Development

Ceremonial Rites of Passage

Purpose & Self-Worth Building

The Drum Circle

The Arts

Programs in Nature

The Mendocino Rites of Passage Experience

Cozy reading nook with sofa, chair, and plants inside a glass cabin with mountain forest views.
The Mendocino Experience

Each year, qualifying participants are invited into a five-day immersion in the Mendocino redwood forest as part of AFARY’s rites of passage experience. Rooted in nature, cultural practice, and guided reflection, this journey provides space for youth to disconnect from survival environments and reconnect with self, land, and purpose.

Cozy sleeping bed high in the mountain with a sunset view
Group of hikers walking through a mountain meadow surrounded by pine trees and misty peaks.

Building Identity, Healing, and Opportunity

Program Outcomes & Impact

Positive Youth Identity Development

Trauma-Informed Emotional Processing

Community Engagement & Peer Connection

Creative and Cultural Competency Building

Future Orientation & Goal Setting

What Each Day with AFARY Holds for You

Expression & Communication

Voice & Self-Expression

Youth develop safe, structured ways to share their experiences, thoughts, and creativity through writing, storytelling, and performance. This cultivates emotional literacy, confidence, and leadership skills recognized by youth development programs.

Expression & Communication

Voice & Self-Expression

Youth develop safe, structured ways to share their experiences, thoughts, and creativity through writing, storytelling, and performance. This cultivates emotional literacy, confidence, and leadership skills recognized by youth development programs.

Mental Health & Coping Skills

Emotional Regulation & Resilience

Daily practices help youth recognize, process, and manage emotions. Through guided reflection, journaling, and cultural arts, participants build resilience, stress management strategies, and trauma-informed coping skills.

Mental Health & Coping Skills

Regulation & Resilience

Daily practices help youth recognize, process, and manage emotions. Through guided reflection, journaling, and cultural arts, participants build resilience, stress management strategies, and trauma-informed coping skills.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Guided Cultural Identity & Belonging

Participants explore ancestral knowledge, cultural traditions, and community values, fostering a strong sense of identity, pride, and belonging. This aligns with programs promoting social cohesion and positive youth identity development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Guided Cultural Identity

Participants explore ancestral knowledge, cultural traditions, and community values, fostering a strong sense of identity, pride, and belonging. This aligns with programs promoting social cohesion and positive youth identity development.

Life & Career Readiness

Life & Career Readiness

Youth strengthen decision-making, accountability, and goal-setting through practical exercises and mentorship. These skills prepare them for independent living, education, or employment pathways supported by youth development funding.

Life & Career Readiness

Life & Career Readiness

Youth strengthen decision-making, accountability, and goal-setting through practical exercises and mentorship. These skills prepare them for independent living, education, or employment pathways supported by youth development funding.

Civic Engagement & Mentorship

Community Engagement & Leadership

Participants practice collaboration, peer mentoring, and leadership in group projects, ceremonies, and rites of passage. These experiences develop civic responsibility, social connection, and positive peer influence.

Civic Engagement & Mentorship

Engagement & Leadership

Participants practice collaboration, peer mentoring, and leadership in group projects, ceremonies, and rites of passage. These experiences develop civic responsibility, social connection, and positive peer influence.

"What we call Gang Culture is not pathology but the poetry of youth without elders"

"What we call Gang Culture is not pathology but the poetry of youth without elders"

"What we call Gang Culture is not pathology but the poetry of youth without elders"

Kesau'c N. Hill

Founder, Arts For At Risk Youth

Core Mission

Your Path with AFARY

AFARY programs create space for expression, creativity, and cultural connection. Each pathway invites youth to explore their voice while building community through shared learning.

Experiential Learning

Making connections with nature through skill building.

Hiking

Camping

Fishing

Get Started

Experiential Learning

Making connections with nature through skill building.

Hiking

Camping

Fishing

Get Started

Experiential Learning

Making connections with nature through skill building.

Hiking

Camping

Fishing

Get Started

Embodied Rites of Passage

Outdoor ceremonial experiences to help foster:

Resilience

Reflection

Personal Growh

Get Started

Embodied Rites of Passage

Outdoor ceremonial experiences to help foster:

Resilience

Reflection

Personal Growh

Get Started

Embodied Rites of Passage

Outdoor ceremonial experiences to help foster:

Resilience

Reflection

Personal Growh

Get Started

Worldview & Imagination

We work on envisiong a different future by:

Encouraging Creativity

Allowing Expression

Cultivating Self-Awareness

Get Started

Worldview & Imagination

We work on envisiong a different future by:

Encouraging Creativity

Allowing Expression

Cultivating Self-Awareness

Get Started

Worldview & Imagination

We work on envisiong a different future by:

Encouraging Creativity

Allowing Expression

Cultivating Self-Awareness

Get Started

Our journal

Where Voice Becomes Practice

The AFARY Journal is a living archive of voice, reflection, and transformation. Through writing, rhythm, culture, and lived experience, these entries explore the practices that help youth regulate, reflect, and reclaim their stories. Each piece offers insight into the creative tools we use to heal, express, and grow—on and off the page.

Read the Journal

Read the Journal

2 min

read

Founding Words

“They don't sing. They don't dance. They know no songs and they have no poetry… Then how do they Heal?"

2 min

read

Founding Thoughts

2 min

read

Founding Thoughts

“Today I asked myself: Who are you? I am seen, despite the objective. Why?"

Man lying on a mat with eyes closed in a relaxation or meditation pose beside a burning incense bowl.

2 min

read

Founding Actions
Man lying on a mat with eyes closed in a relaxation or meditation pose beside a burning incense bowl.

2 min

read

Founding Actions

"Today I am of sound mind & body. With Ambition flowing through every vein as I organize my minds eye on purpose driven goals."

Your Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Couldn't find your question?
Get in touch with us!

What services does AFARY provide?

We Provide youth a safe space to express themselves, even the traumas they have no words to express by utilizing the ancient arts of storytelling, poetry, journaling and creative arts.

Who is eligible for AFARY programming?

Though a lot of our focus is on system impacted boys form the age of 12 - 21 ALL youth are invited into the "Raven Circles".

How is enrollment completed?

All you need to do is visit our contact page, where you’ll find the email address, phone numbers, and registration forms you need.

Get Started

Cross the Bridge and begin your journey with AFARY

Cross the Bridge and begin your journey with AFARY

Partner with AFARY to expand access to programs that nurture creativity, cultural awareness, and positive youth development.

Partner with AFARY to expand access to programs that nurture creativity, cultural awareness, and positive youth development.

Get Connected with Us