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‍“This eye represents all the pain female endure in their lifes. Some time you don’t notice but this is how a female ends her day.”

Million Little’s juvenile detention camp 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. There are labels put upon the girls in our program, which obscures others from seeing their strengths.

This particular artist has a strong demeanor, which might cause her sensitivity to be overlooked. But her vulnerability in creating this artwork makes her strong sense of empathy shine brightly. There is a strength in being able to recognize the hidden pain of others, and this painting calls for us to be more cognizant of those suffering in silence.

In a “A Litany of Survival” by Audre Lorde, she writes:

“[...] when we speak we are afraid

our words will not be heard

nor welcomed

but when we are silent

we are still afraid

So it is better to speak

remembering

we were never meant to survive”

It can be terrifying to show your true self, but there are many ways to do so. As our programs show us again and again, art is a powerful tool in making others see you for who you are.