Akeila Tolson Professional Media Producer came to the kids’ rebellion at age thirteen as one in every of yu’s youngest individuals. She’s now 22 and has come complete circle: the previous scholar in yu’s media arts application is now an instructor and a professional media producer.
In her younger years at yu, akeila changed into known by means of her rapper call, “young sixteen.” although she usually had an interest in the arts, her initial motivation for coming to you turned into, “so I didn’t ought to move home.”
for most of her adolescence she and her circle of familiesfamilies have been homeless, dwelling precariously with prolonged family and pals, in accommodations and at one factor, out of a van.
All through the years, you provided, “a place to hang around and experience security. Whatever may be occurring out of doors, right down the street, but as long as you’re in here, it’s like an entirely different international. When you step thru these doorways, you’re first-rate.”
Because the years went by, akeila’s courting with yu grew deeper and she have become a fixture in lessons, performances and subsequently, as a member of the youth multimedia manufacturing personnel.
Her creative paintings have become a shape of therapy. “without yu, I as well as a lot of my pals might have fallen sufferer to now not only the stereotypes, however also the streets of Oakland.”
In 2012, akeila entered expression college for virtual arts and become on the dean’s listing during her career. In the midst of this most important accomplishment, she faced heartbreaking tragedy: the death of her mother to most cancers in 2012, and her own conflict with the sickness.
Yu executive director olis Simmons, “reached explanation to me and presented me paintings to preserve my mind off matters, keep me shifting, and just to position some cash in my pocket.” her most cancers is now in remission and she or he graduated with honors this beyond summer season.
In akeila’s personal phrases, “youth rebellion is the truth and it brings a beam of mild to one of the most secret areas of Oakland. This region has inspired me a lot.”