Artists for Humanity (AFH), Boston, MA and New York City, NY, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that harnesses the power of art, mentorship and paid professional experiences to inspire teens to build their future. Transcending economic, racial and social divisions, AFH teens transform communities through creative expression by collaborating on innovative art and design projects commissioned by clients and sharing their voice through public art. 
Vision and Mission
Artists for Humanity (AFH) harnesses the power of art, mentorship and paid professional experiences to inspire teens to build their future. Transcending economic, racial and social divisions, AFH teens transform communities through creative expression by collaborating on innovative art and design projects commissioned by clients and sharing their voice through public art. AFH’s vision is be the birthplace of the greatest artists and changemakers of our time.
History
AFH was founded in 1991 in Boston with a bold yet simple idea: to provide teens with the opportunity to explore their creativity while gaining meaningful employment. What began as a small, grassroots effort has grown into a nationally recognized model for youth development, blending art, design, and social enterprise. From its earliest days, AFH has centered young people as both artists and professionals, trusting in their ability to shape not only their own futures but also the cultural fabric of their city.
In its formative years, AFH operated out of modest spaces, partnering with local artists and community leaders to offer workshops and mural projects. These early collaborations helped establish a foundation rooted in mentorship and real-world experience. As the organization expanded through the 1990s and early 2000s, it developed a series of in-house studios, ranging from painting and sculpture to graphic design and digital media, where teens could work on commissioned projects for businesses, nonprofits, and public spaces. This earned-income model became a defining feature of AFH, ensuring that youth were compensated for their work while gaining exposure to professional standards and expectations.
The opening of the EpiCenter in South Boston in 2004 marked a major milestone. This environmentally sustainable facility became a hub for creativity, housing multiple studios under one roof and symbolizing AFH’s long-term investment in both young people and the city. From this space, thousands of teens have contributed to projects that span branding campaigns, public art installations, and product design, each one reinforcing the idea that their voices matter.
For the past 35 years, these young creatives have been developing their voices through mentorship, collaboration, and paid professional experiences in the arts. This anniversary offers a moment to not only celebrate achievements, but also to recognize how deeply our story is interwoven with that of our surrounding community; growing, adapting, and responding to its ongoing transformations. As Boston has changed, so too has AFH—expanding its reach, diversifying its programming, and continually redefining what it means to prepare youth for the future of work.
Today, AFH stands as both an arts organization and a workforce development engine. Its alumni have gone on to careers in creative industries, education, business, and beyond, carrying with them the skills and confidence cultivated during their time at AFH. Yet the heart of the organization remains the same: a belief in the power of young people, the importance of creative expression, and the value of investing in the next generation.
Looking ahead, AFH continues to evolve, embracing new technologies, artistic disciplines, and partnerships while staying grounded in its mission. Its history is not just a record of growth, but a testament to what is possible when creativity, opportunity, and community come together.
Activities
Each year, AFH employs hundreds of Boston teens as artists and designers on commissioned and entrepreneurial projects in the creative industries. Participating in the creative process develops teens into nimble thinkers, prepared to solve the complex problems they will encounter in their life. It changes the way young people envision and plan for their futures, empowering them to reach for opportunities far beyond their experience. AFH develops young people as leaders in social change.
Youth Arts Enterprise AFH transforms the experiences of young people through our central program, the Youth Arts Enterprise, which employs Boston teens during their out-of-school hours: working Tuesday-Thursday from 3:00-6:00PM during the school year and Monday-Thursday from 11:00AM-5:15PM during summer. AFH partners teens with our staff of professional artist and designer mentors to work on commissioned creative projects. Studio sessions focus on developing youth creativity and innovation, featuring a small group structure of 7-20 young people working alongside mentors. Students continue to learn by doing; their individual talents are enhanced in a variety of arts workshops.
Youth are employed as artists and designers on projects in: Painting (Fine Art Commissions and Murals), Animation, Creative Technology, Graphic Design, Photography, Video Production, and 3D Design (3D Fine Art Installations, Industrial and Furniture Design). AFH teaches ideation, experimentation and testing; the design thinking methodology sought-after by today’s employers. Central to our vision is creative employment and partnership with industry to provide a pipeline to jobs in well-compensated creative and technology-based fields.
Youth and art/design mentors collaborate on paid commissions—like brand identities and websites for local businesses, bike racks for college campuses, murals for property developers, public art for municipalities, and social justice inspired art installations for organizations promoting equity and celebrating diversity—that promote active learning and 21st century skills in creativity, media, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). AFH mentors make explicit the STEM concepts embedded in AFH studio projects to support teens’ in-school learning, and host visiting STEM professionals to introduce under-represented youth to STEM career pathways.
Commissioned projects require teens to craft a product that responds to client needs. Teens are directly involved in client meetings and negotiations, giving them an important introduction to the professional world. Teens participate in planning, product development, and marketing of projects. Through this process, young people have positive and encouraging interactions with adults who value their work and appreciate their contributions. Like any job, they are expected to be punctual and contribute as team members.
Art-making and design are AFH’s chosen vehicles for social change because they give young people the confidence to engage with the world. Promoting youth creativity and talent brings AFH’s social justice strategy to culmination. Each year, AFH teens participate in dozens of exhibitions and art installations. These exhibits allow viewers to develop a greater understanding of the young artists’ unique perspectives and experiences. Each young person’s creative work or contribution to a commissioned project provides an opportunity for under-represented youth to share their voice and vision with a wide audience. Sales of their artwork or prolonged exposure through AFH’s exhibition leasing program continues to amplify their creative vision.
Examples of Projects
Related Beal: AFH was commissioned by Related Beal to provide graphic design consultation for their fence scrim along A Street, which is now flanked by two approximately 8′ tall AFH-designed whimsical sculptures, affectionately called “Found Family.” Related Beal’s planned Channelside development aims to transform a parking lot along the Fort Point Channel into 1.1 million square feet of residential, retail, commercial, and public space, while also contributing to affordable housing and local arts and culture initiatives in the neighborhood. To tell the story of the diverse community that is about to be created, our 3D Design Studio celebrated the installation of AFH-designed sculptures alongside our partner Related Beal. The birdhouse sculpture designs offer a nod to the Seaport neighborhood and the vibrant network of parks and rotating art planned for the development’s public spaces, while its title, offered by AFH teens, speaks to the notion of how one can find new family in new spaces.
Quarterra: At 40 Rugg Road in Allston, our youth artists collaborated with mentors to design
and install a public-facing mural on a new residential building. Teens gained firsthand experience in creating community-centered art, while mentors expanded their skills working with an articulating boom lift to complete the mural. This project not only beautified the neighborhood but also provided valuable professional training for emerging artists.
Israel Deacon Medical Center: To commemorate the history and accomplishments of BIDMC. A 19’x9’ three-dimensional timeline for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), in partnership with Boston Art, entitled “A History of Care for All” designed by AFH’s 3D Design Studio. Kevin McAteer, Divisional Vice President, Philanthropy, shared, “This piece is a wonderful representation of BIDMC’s rich history and the values that guide our work to this day.” Located on the Klarman Building’s third floor on the Druker Family Sky Bridge, the timeline reflects the milestones of a long history of BIDMC’s caring for all community members. Photographs from BIDMC’s extensive archives visualize the narrative history. The design was fabricated and installed by AFH’s longtime partner MJM Fabrication Design.
AH Co-Lab AFH Co-Lab shares the AFH Model and creative studio access with schools during the day, facilitating collaborations with school teachers on their work to promote advanced skills development in industrial design, digital media and experiential learning in STEM+Arts (STEAM), all within AFH’s context of community engagement, youth leadership, and building equity. The program provides young people with the opportunity for hands-on learning, working alongside AFH’s team of professional artist and designer mentors to complete a project that will be featured in their school or their community.
In AFH Co-Lab, students from your school take on the role of teen designers, and their clients are their schools and their community. Teachers, staff or community members select a design project that best meets their final outcome and educational objectives. Some examples from previous school partnerships include an art installation for the surrounding community, a sculpture for school grounds, or promotional school videos. Participants are guided by AFH mentors through the design process, from discovery to production.
In 2024, CityLab and AFH-Co-Lab launched an Art and Design College Pathway with MassArt, providing college credit, workforce development, and the opportunity for employment in art and design to a cohort of Revere CityLab juniors and seniors.
AFH Artists Fellowships AFH Artists Fellowships–Launched in 2023, The AFH Artists Fellowship is an extension of AFH’s work to amplify the voices of under-represented artists on the public stage, and builds on our deep experience in multi-faceted creative mentorship and community-building. The program seeks to advance the careers of AFH alumni and other local artists by using our experience, resources, and connections to promote their careers, and foster their professional development. During their Fellowship, five early-mid career Boston artists expand their body of work and collaborate on new works, public art installations, interactive art happenings, traditional gallery exhibitions, and other innovative creative formats to showcase their work and vision.
Over the course of six months, the Fellows create a plan of action to identify their goals and work towards accomplishing them. Each Fellow is rewarded with a stipend that is dispersed throughout the course of the Fellowship. Fellows create a new body of work, collaborate with one another on larger external projects, engage with AFH teens through workshops and Q&A sessions, and display their body of work in a culminating Fellows’ exhibition. In February 2024, we launched the second AFH Artists Fellowship, focused around Content Creation and led by Chris Hope, founder of Equity Intelligence LLC, and The Loop Lab. The 2025 Fellowship session, led by mentoring artist Veronique “nico” d’entrement is focused on sustainable creative practice.
Education Support Our commitment to teen artists extends beyond the art as we offer in-house tutoring and college readiness programming.
Tutoring(Available Monday-Friday, in person or remotely)—As needed, AFH provides teens with 1:1 tutoring outside of studio hours to help them develop comprehension in core subjects, succeed in tests, and improve grades. Tutoring is available to all AFH youth employees, and teens with grades of D or below in core subjects or language on their quarterly report card are required to attend as a condition of their employment.
College Readiness—AFH helps teens develop individualized plans for post-secondary education, and provides assistance with college tours and applications. AFH works with teens to secure scholarships and financial aid packages through a variety of opportunities, including partner scholarships with Maine College of Art, Montserrat College of Art & Design, and Lesley University.
Alumni Support—AFH supports program alumni with college entry/re-entry. We offer summertime Assistant Mentor positions at AFH and connect alumni with employment and other opportunities through our alumni Facebook page. In 2023, AFH hired an Alumni Program Manager to assist with alumni tracking and referrals.
Curriculum Teens who attend underfunded public schools need more integrated STEM+Arts learning experiences, including relevant technological training to become active participants and leaders in the creative economy. AFH integrates STEM topics within studio practice to affirm teens’ confidence in their STEM abilities, promote their fluency in acquiring and applying STEM concepts, and connect under-represented youth with STEAM career pathways. AFH further prepares teens to explore innovative STEAM disciplines by providing them with access to current and emerging technology, digital media outlets, and advanced technological training.
With the Four-Year Graduation Rate for the Boston Public Schools at 81%, AFH believes many teens need more diverse educational pathways, and one-on-one support and guidance to assist them with high school graduation and post-secondary transitions. AFH provides academic support systems through After-Work Tutoring; College Readiness/Senior Transition; and College Entry/Re-Entry support.
AFH makes social equity a tangible reality by enriching the experiences of underserved young people—one person at a time—through opportunities. The opportunity to learn as they earn money, to use their intrinsic creativity as they master marketable skills, to forge a path toward post-secondary educational options and meaningful careers, and to believe in themselves.
Life skills A job at AFH provides young people with authentic work experiences that develop real-world career readiness skills through collaborative problem solving, social and emotional learning, and fostering a growth mindset. This is how our young artists and designers recently described their experiences working at AFH:
“My experience at AFH has impacted my life very positively. I’m able to now (hone) my problem-solving skills that I’ve gained from the job in my everyday life, and I’m able to use my time management skills in my school environment. I’ve also become good at communication and being friendly with more and more people.” Victoria, Photography
“Working at AFH opened my mind to out-of-the-box thinking when it came to problem-solving about school and in my social life. It has also help get reintroduced to socializing in person with people… I have learned that I’m very resilient and very hard-working” Nevaeh, 3D Design
“AFH has made me more confident in my abilities and allowed me to take more risks when it comes to presenting myself and work.” Rose, Photography
“My experience at AFH has impacted my life by showing me what it’s like working and making my own income. I learned that I’m rather resilient, and I’m much more creative than I initially thought.” Aaron, 3D Design
“(Working at AFH has) really taught me to pay more attention to detail. I’ve noticed that I try to enjoy my day-to-day life more too. Instead of just kind of floating through the weeks, I actually focus on the little moments and the time I spend with people and doing what I love.” Xanthe, Photography
“(Working at AFH has) really helped me find myself and my interests. I believe compared to other kids my age there’s a broader range of career paths I can take due to the years of instruction I received during my employment (at AFH). I was exposed to different art mediums and given the opportunity to use professional equipment.” Raina, Photography
Public speaking and marketing AFH promotes youth creativity and talent by training teens to create, exhibit, market and sell their fine art, design, and digital media services. Completing hundreds of custom design projects annually, AFH youth are a valued creative resource for the commercial world.
Our program continuously cultivates young people’s leadership and personal growth through collaboration and self-governance. At AFH, teen artists sit at conference tables with CEOs and leadership teams; their opinions are valued; and they are looked to as experts. And, in the process, they discover new trajectories as future leaders.
Financial literacy ( AFH uses economic empowerment and the responsibility and respect of paid employment to expand available career pathways for teens, show them that their creativity has value, and introduce them to the opportunities and expectations of a professional workplace. Teens develop financial literacy through dedicated workshops and the real-world experience of managing a paycheck. Last year, more than half of our teen artists and designers reported contributing money they had earned at AFH to savings, that can help them support college and other expenses.
AFH EpiCenter Event Rental Understanding that educational opportunities offer pathways to economic attainment, AFH offers significant academic advancement and college access programming. The event rental program supports creative jobs while introducing the voice and talent of urban teens work in our galleries to a wide audience ranging from individuals, businesses, and communities.
Audiences served
Students: Artists for Humanity primarily serves high school teens in grades 9 through 12 that are enrolled in the City of Boston and New York City public school system or a GED program. Each year, 90% of our youth colleagues come from households with low or very low-incomes. More than half come from the neighborhoods identified as at-risk on the Distressed Community Index. Our goal is to employ Boston & New York City teens with the greatest need for access to the transformative impact of art and design training and experiences. AFH prioritizes recruiting teens attending schools where access to the arts is limited.
Teachers and Mentors: AFH provides year-round and seasonal employment for teaching artists through our studio mentorship model. At AFH, teens develop relationships with role models from similar backgrounds who have successfully navigated the roadblocks to social and economic empowerment. The majority of the artist mentors employed at AFH are alumni. As peers, they connect to the teens through their shared experience. As mentors, they challenge teens to trust in their abilities, expand their perception of what is possible for them, and assume increased responsibility. AFH mentorship entails traditional adult-to-youth training and peer-to-peer sharing in a fusion that cultivates youth leadership. Through our Co-Lab program, AFH works with teachers in Boston high schools to meet their educational goals through enriching STEAM learning experiences.
Community: Audiences for annual events and exhibitions are the Greater Boston, Massachusetts community at large, and New York City. AFH events cultivate our wider community, including generations of alumni, former staff and supporters from our 35-year history, active donors and members of our boards, family and friends of our teen artists, locals from our immediate neighborhood, and corporate and municipal partners from a wide cross section of Boston industries. Artists For Humanity is deeply embedded in the fabric of the community, and this is represented in the attendance at our events. In addition, our gallery doubles as a large event space that is rented up to 300 days annually, bringing guests from near and far for an evolving carousel of weddings, corporate events, awards ceremonies, and cultural events, typically attended by 200-500 guests. AFH also hosts youth-focused events in our space, for example our annual Career Connections event featuring career presentations and speed-coaching. We are cultivating our new community in NYC and recently launched a regional advisory board to expand our network and deepen connections.
Public Art enjoyed by the community at large……Every time a teen artist shares their artwork, they invite viewers to see the world through their eyes and develop a greater understanding of the young, urban experience. Every time a young person enters a corporation and converses about a design project, sometimes with the CEO, they become that successful businessperson’s peer and shift perceptions of a young person’s role in society. Every time an AFH youth approaches a storeowner in their neighborhood to create a public mural, and coalesces a mural team, they become a new community leader. We use “every time” to describe the above events as if they are everyday occurrences for just that reason—they are! Transforming Boston’s city streets, parks, and commercial spaces into showcases for youth talent, AFH provides a unique and powerful platform from which Boston teens can share their voice and vision with the world.
Youth Arts Enterprise
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- $1.36 million in wages and commissions paid directly to young artists in 2024.
- $1.15M revenues generated from commissions and sale of teen art and design.
- 400+ commissioned projects and art sales.
- 100% of teens feel that their skills and knowledge have improved by participating in the AFH program
- 92% of teens feel that AFH has prepared them for the workforce
- 55% of wages went to contribute to family’s household expenses and/or personal savings
AFH Co-Lab and Fellowship
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- 14 School Partners who participated in AFH Co-Lab
- 594 students who participated in AFH Co-Lab
- 5 AFH Fellows
- $72,000.00 total value of stipends paid to AFH Fellows
- 38 artworks Created During Fellowship
Educational Support
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- 100% of seniors graduated from high school or equivalent
- 89% of teens have an interest in a 2 or 4 year college
- $1,130,375 earned in college scholarships, covering an average of 72% of their college
- 601 after-hours tutoring program provided for academic support, including SAT preparation, to 109 teens.
- 289 former AFH participants enrolled in post-secondary education.
EpiCenter Event Rentals
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- 127 unique events hosted at the EpiCenter
- 163 days when events were hosted at the EpiCenter
Social Media Reach
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- 5,888 monthly average of unique visitors to org
- 36,522 followers on social media
Recommendations for replication and/or adaptation
Artists for Humanity is a unique model of teen employment and empowerment. Organizations interested in replicating or adapting the AFH model are encouraged to reach out for potential collaborations and guidance.
Contact
Patrice Maye, Executive Director, 617.268.7620 x220, pmaye@afhboston.org