For more than two decades, AS220 Youth has been a powerful force for change—using art as a means of healing, empowerment, and leadership for Rhode Island’s young people. Founded in 1998 through a partnership with the Rhode Island Training School, the program began by offering creative workshops to incarcerated youth. Today, it has grown into a nationally recognized model that reaches hundreds of young people each year, providing mentorship, artistic training, and a supportive community rooted in self-expression and social justice.

At the heart of AS220 Youth’s mission is the belief that every young person—especially BIPOC youth—deserves the chance to lead, create, and be heard. Through its studios and classrooms, students transform their lived experiences into art that inspires and challenges the world around them. The White Family Foundation’s past support has helped sustain this vital work, ensuring that creativity continues to light a path forward for Rhode Island’s next generation of leaders.