Confidence in Connection

When John started Creative Leadership: Business Merchandise Track, he was quiet and unsure of himself. When filling out surveys, he would ponder, write furiously, erase, and repeat. After drawing a cohort community agreement along with his peers, he was shy to share his art with the group. Part of his creative process was examining his progress and reworking every detail to his satisfaction, and so was the case for his merch design.

Life in Gray

Sam and I first connected over the movie, (500) Days of Summer, through Million Little’s Creative Leadership program. The film is about Tom, who projects all of his romantic ideals onto Summer, his love interest. 

Adrian’s Story

Being a father for nearly 29 years has been an incredible journey, one that comes with its own unique set of challenges and rewards.

Mistakes Can Be Beautiful

The first book we read with our first grade artists during Creativity in the Classroom and Beyond is Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg, a simple and delightful story about how our mistakes can take us on adventures.

Letting Go

We weren’t sure if Daniel was still participating in Creative Leadership. He hadn’t come in three weeks, so we guessed we wouldn’t be seeing him for anymore of this six-week offering.

Monsters Under the Bed

How many of us walk through life with all kinds of thoughts, feelings, hopes, and fears trapped inside of us? My brain and heart often feel like holding cells, bursting at the seams trying to wrangle all of the insecurities, dreams, anxieties, and desires that are bouncing off the walls. They’re looking for a place to go, for someone to pay attention. This week, an artist named Daniel taught me how art can help me make sense of those rascally thoughts and feelings.

Bryana's Story

Shoota's Story

Creative Mindfulness Program: "Shoota" a rapper and true lyricist expressed that creating music makes space for him to express the things that are more difficult to say outside of the music.

The Million Little Way

While our Creativity in the Classroom and Beyond program is not set to return to Newhall Elementary until January 2024, we were fortunate enough to be a part of their Family Fun Fall Festival, where new and returning participants alike were able to get an early taste of what’s to come.

A clear vision through cloudy skies

Program participant and high school student, “Julia”, said she joined the Creative Leadership Program, “to be able to create something I would wear,” and she did just that.

Tending The Garden

This year, Million Little staff and nine high school students made up the 2023 Creative Leadership (CL) summer cohort, self-named Create to Inspire.

Finding Inspiration in the Mundane

Last month we launched our Create the Change Leadership Program. A strengths-based workforce program grounded in creativity and self-expression.

The Power of Experimentation

One of the great things that we really value about our programs at Million Little is that they are truly directed by our students' interests. Whatever interests our students want to pursue we are there to help support them in their endeavors.

Back In Action

Come rain, shine, or pandemic, Million Little never stops providing for our youth. Throughout the pandemic we’ve been forced to change, transitioning to remote programing and enhancing our Digital Arts Project. We’ve communicated with our youth through notebook sharing and Instagram DMs, Zoom calls and old school letters. Like everyone else we’ve adapted to our new environment with the hope of one day being able to return to our youth in person once more.

The Girl Who Runs

"Looking Within" is currently participating in Million Little’s juvenile detention program for the third time. She is an amazing young woman, responsible for inspiring countless girls to learn new skills and reach for new heights.

The Origin of Mystic

Our imagination is a powerful tool. It reminds us that the way things are now is not the way they always will be. We are capable of creating worlds, characters, stories, and our own futures.

Wisdom Comes From Experience

We have been inspired by Isaac’s spirit ever since first meeting him in our Transitional Age Youth program.

Inner Bleeding

Many of our program participants feel pressure to not make any mistakes. They relate to Victoria, who shared, “I think I’m a perfectionist with my art because I can’t control anything else in my life.”

Letting Go of Control

When Jenny entered Million Little’s program, her instinct was to stay in her comfort zone by drawing the pattern she often doodles during class.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Million Little has been proud to watch what we’ve seen of James’ journey and transformation thus far. His light shines brightly, showing others that they too can commit to the processes of recovery and growth.

Nothing is perfect

It is hypnotizing to watch Draegen at work. His fingers move quickly, manipulating wire and clay into fantastical creatures.

Building Trust

Million Little begins each of our creative mindfulness sessions inside the juvenile detention camp with a period of self reflection.

Happy Accidents

Roland's Story

When Roland walked into his first session with us, he was hesitant about the creative process because he didn’t have a lot of experience with art.

Embracing Color

ISAAC holds within his imagination a vast fantasy universe filled with inter-generational family feuds, wise warriors, and tangled love stories. He is passionate about both drawing and storytelling, and has been working on this graphic novel since 8th grade.

Peace of Life

“I know I’m great, but sometimes someone has to remind me I’m great.” Million Little Program Participant (RICKY), 21

Sobriety 3

Since James joined Million Little two months ago, he has consistently inspired us with his strength, compassion, and determination.

The Pursuit of Happiness

The road to happiness can be a very fickle one. It's safe to say that one person’s definition of "happy" can be drastically different and vary greatly from another’s.

Women Are Beautiful in Every Color

Our lives illustrate the wonderfully diverse spectrum that makes up this great rainbow of a nation.

Living in the Grey

Everything isn't always black and white... right or wrong... good or bad. There are a lot of messy, layered, complex, misunderstood grey areas when it comes to many of life's situations.

Serenity in the Midst of Chaos

How do you cope in the midst of chaos? What do you do when you're in a hostile environment but don't have the luxury of physically removing yourself from it... When you're not at liberty to change the very nature of your surroundings?

Light in Darkness

Maya Angelou wrote, “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”

The power of question

Untold Story

Addiction Cycle

Vulnerability

Each youth in our program has a story, and we allow them to share it on their own terms.

Bobby

When we work with children with trauma sometimes the mission seems so daunting and scary.

Rollercoaster (Drug Use)

Mother Teresa once said, “Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyways.”

The Battles

The idea of encouraging children to participate in a mock battle may seem shocking.

An Eye With Tears

Million Little’s juvenile detention program gives our girls the opportunity to access new forms of self-expression and share their voice in a supportive and safe environment. All too often, assumptions cloud our ability to see someone’s true self, what they’ve been through and where they’re going.