Youth in Arts

Youth in Arts offers live performances and experiences for students and families, along with a self-curated visual art show titled My Voice Matters and public artwork created by youth. The program includes a summer camp, an architecture residency, the Intensive Arts Mentorship (I AM) workshop where teen Emerging Artists are paid to create public artwork, and the award-winning teen a cappella group ’Til Dawn. Youth in Arts also presents the RISING STARS opening reception in the YIA Gallery and hosts youth exhibitions such as My Voice Matters for ages 11–19.

• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Saturday, April 25, 2026, 11am–3pm

Youth in Arts states that access to a creative life is a right for all students. The organization has 20 years of work in arts programming and maintains YIA Gallery, a children-focused art gallery dedicated to celebrating the creativity and vision of local youth. Youth in Arts offers ARTSbank (Arts Resources for Teachers and Students), VALuEd (Virtual Arts Learning Experiences), and a scaffolded, sequential visual arts curriculum designed to help students from traditionally under-resourced schools utilize the arts to find their voice and develop the confidence to share it.

The leadership team includes Suzanne Joyal, Interim Executive Director; Morgan Schauffler, Director of External Affairs; Barbara Yupit Gomez, Program Manager; Austin Willacy, ’Til Dawn Director/Mentor Artist; Cathy Bowman, Arts Unite Us Coordinator & Visual Arts Specialist; Angelean Johnson, Communications & Development Manager; and David Peterson, Program Coordinator/Mentor Artist. Suzanne Joyal holds a Master of Arts in Adaptive Arts Education from Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, PA, and is working on her doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Maine. Morgan Schauffler holds a degree in Art History and Human Communications from the University of Denver. Barbara Yupit Gomez graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in American Studies. Cathy Bowman holds a B.A. in Political Science from U.C. Santa Barbara. Angelean Johnson is a graduate of Baylor University with a B.S. in Public Health. David Peterson is a multi-subject credentialed teacher.

In 2021, Suzanne Joyal was honored as the Outstanding Special Needs Visual Arts Educator of the year by the California Arts Education Association. In 2018, Austin Willacy won a Positive Music Award for co-writing the eponymous theme song to “Thrive,” a documentary with over 90 million views worldwide.

Youth in Arts is participating in What About Age?, which features panels exploring ageism. The C Street Celebration has joined the HeadsUp Carnival, and the 35th Annual RISING STARS exhibit features artwork from over 130 students attending Marin County’s public, private, and alternative high schools. The My Voice Matters exhibition highlights the power and significance of student voices through visual art, and Youth in Arts collaborates each year on “Creators, Innovators, and Civic Leaders — Now and in the Future.” Suzanne Joyal works on community development and outreach at the Neuroarts Blueprint initiative and has extensive experience teaching students with disabilities, providing professional development workshops for educators and families, and building model programs aimed at utilizing the arts to better engage every learner. Barbara Yupit Gomez has worked closely with San Rafael City Schools as a Youth Educator at ForWords Literacy Lab, serving ESL students. Morgan Schauffler is a commissioner on the San Rafael Public Art Review Board, a board member of the San Rafael Business Improvement District, and the steering committee representative for the Downtown San Rafael Arts District. Austin Willacy co-organizes and co-facilitates Jams for YES!, is a former board member for Rainforest Action Network and the Freight & Salvage, is a longstanding member of the North America Jam team, and is a co-founder of the Arts for Social Change Jam and the Black Diaspora Jam. In 2020, Austin co-founded Raise Your Voice Labs, a creative culture transformation company that helps groups build brave spaces to have discussions that matter and embody new visions of community through musical co-creation.

Students in Youth in Arts programs have shared that before art, one student “thought I was going to not do things right and do everything wrong,” and after art, the same student “realized that there are some challenges but I became better at art.” Another student stated, “What I learned in art is about story making. When I was involved in art is when I made a story.” A third student said, “What I learned in art is that people make mistakes. In art when I am involved I try my best and never give up.”

Last updated March 18, 2026.