Native American After School Art Program (NAASAP)

The Native American After School Art Program (NAASAP) will unite Native American youth and assist them in developing skills and perspectives that will result in an increased knowledge and sense of pride in their cultural identity. Through community arts programming, youth will become self-empowered to effect positive change in their own lives and in the Native American community of Baltimore.

The Native American After School Art Program (NAASAP) exists to provide a safe, structured, environment for Baltimore's Native youth to assemble themselves together. NAASAP programming presents Art as a vehicle for young people to address issues that are important to them. NAASAP will lift up the voices of Baltimore's Native American youth as they are empowered to work creatively toward real goals. Their sense of purpose, efficacy and ownership of their community will grow in this process.

NAASAP was established and is facilitated by Community Artist Ashley Minner, a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. A graduate of MD Institute College of Art's Master of Fine Art in Community Arts Program (MFA, '11, MA '07, BFA '05), Ashley is a Class X Open Society Institute (OSI) Baltimore Community Fellow.

NAASAP is co-facilitated by Foster Grandparents Frieda Minner, Minnie S. Maynor and Carl "Mr. Charlie" Locklear; high school students Mark Vandevander and Sabrina Alexander; all members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

NAASAP is YOUTH RUN. Curriculum and class structure is developed by participating young people.

Currently, classes are held from 4-7PM on Mondays and Wednesdays at The Baltimore American Indian Center. Young people must attend school in order to participate in after-school programming. Summer programming schedule varies.