By Ari Plotkin
Art with a Heart wants to help shape the future of Charm City’s young creatives one piece of art at a time.
In the midst of celebrating its 25th anniversary, the local nonprofit is selling HeARTwares, items handcrafted by local artistic students who are learning vocational skills.
HeARTwares is a social enterprise retail store at AWAH’s location at 1104 W. 36th Street in Hampden.
The program, started in 2010, provides young people with job training and creative opportunities, said Randi Alper Pupkin, AWAH’s founder and executive director. She said HeArtwares started as a booth at Baltimore’s Artscape festival and blossomed into a year-round program.
“We had a booth at Artscape for 10 years, and people were very interested in the art that was created by our students,” said Pupkin. “We felt like having a workforce program where students create works of art, and then having an actual brick-and-mortar location to sell that, would be great. … We just took this leap of faith and opened a store.”
HeARTwares serves young people ages 14 to 24, many of whom face barriers to employment. The program works with students from low-income backgrounds, young people experiencing homelessness, and young adults with disabilities.
During the summer, HeARTwares partners with the local nonprofit YouthWorks, bringing in additional students to gain hands-on experience.
“It’s students from all over the city who might not have access to job training but also might have an interest in art,” said Pupkin. “Originally, our job program was just a summer program, and it’s evolved to be a year-round program. … We keep on some of our summer participants as paid apprentices during the year.”
Beyond art, students gain retail experience and learn how to be team players.
“Companies don’t want to hire younger people because they don’t have job skills,” Pupkin said. “We’re teaching ‘soft skills’ that are important, like showing up on time, dressing appropriately, speaking appropriately, and staying focused on a project from start to finish.”
Pupkin, who is stepping down from her role at AWAH this summer, said Jewish values strongly influenced her decision to start the nonprofit, as well as the HeARTwares program. “What I did in launching this organization is part of who I am as a Jewish woman,” she said.
She said HeARTwares fosters a sense of community by partnering with organizations across Baltimore.
“The Jewish community, the Black community, we work with everybody in Baltimore and we’re grateful for the diversity we have here,” said Pupkin. “I hope that it continues to be successful, and I hope it continues to grow. I think the idea of a workforce program is especially needed right now.”
On Saturday, Mar. 29, AWAH will celebrate its 25th anniversary from 6:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. at the M&T Bank Exchange at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center in Baltimore . For information, visit artwithaheart.net.
For information about HeARTwares, visit artwithaheart.net/shop/.
Ari Plotkin is a Jmore editorial staff intern.
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