Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop

YEPAW uses the arts to engage middle and high school urban youth in activities that provide positive options for developing their talents, skills and self-esteem. It provides the culture, relationships and opportunities needed by youth to pursue lifestyles of excellence, develop in a healthy and holistic manner, complete their high school and advanced education, prepare for their future careers, and serve others and their community.

YEPAW has created a safe place with nurturing mentors where youth feel understood and valued; the values and traditions of African Americans are embraced; world-class arts experiences are provided to youth; educational aspirations and achievement are expected of all; and community service is encouraged and practiced. There are hundreds of youth throughout Northeast Ohio and the United States that can give vivid testimony to the profound impact YEPAW has had on their lives. The vision of YEPAW is a future for Akron area urban youth in which high school and college education is the expectation and norm for all. We desire for their lives to be routinely enriched by the arts and for them to feel supported and encouraged to be all that they can be in service to themselves, their families and others.