In an effort to be creative in combating the high school dropout crisis, staff members at artworxLA are appealing to the creativity of area teenagers to keep the students on the right track in life.

Liliana, 16, and Eduardo, 18, work on their graphic novels at the Hollywood Media Arts Academy. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

The organization, founded in 1992 by Cynthia Campoy Brophy, offers arts-based dropout prevention programs to approximately 650 students at 26 alternative high school sites throughout Los Angeles County.

“It’s a great time for kids to learn to think creatively,” Brophy said. “As the world is changing and people need to be more nimble about their career paths, you have to think creatively about how you’re going to evolve as a person. So, the arts are a great opportunity for them to think that way.”

Locally, artworxLA operates the Hollywood Media Arts Academy in partnership with the Los Angeles County Office of Education. While students in artworxLA programs typically receive two hours of arts education for one day each week under the tutelage of working artists, students at the academy receive two hours of arts instruction five days a week. The arts curriculum complements the general education courses they take at the academy through the office of education.

Students at the academy study digital photography, graphic design, video production and editing, and animation. Each year, the students work with three different artists on three different disciplines using different themes, development associate Alma Villegas said.

She said the organization partners with cultural institutions to present the students’ works after each 11-week session. In the fall, artworxLA partnered with UCLA, the Los Angeles Central Library and the Skirball Cultural Center. For the winter session, the organization has partnered with the Hammer Museum, UCLA’s Art and Global Health Center, KCET and La Plaza de Cultura y Artes.

Last week, students in one classroom worked on a theatre performance while students in another worked on a graphic novel. Irene, who hopes to be a mechanic after graduation, said she enjoys the coursework.

“I like it. It’s better than public school [in] every way. It’s [more fun] and easier at the same time,” she said, adding that the instructors are able to work with students more personally than in public schools. “Here, teachers focus on you only when you need it.”

Villegas said the majority of the communities that artworxLA serves are underserved. Some of the students are on probation, while others just were not fitting in or were not doing well in public schools, she said.

“A lot of the communities that we service are disadvantaged, so they face a myriad of situations,” Villegas added.

She said the goal is to keep the students engaged and involved on their way to graduation. Villegas said students sometimes seem very uninterested in the curriculum at first, but become much more attentive as the sessions draw to a close.

“It’s a good feeling [providing the services], and we see the results,” she said, adding that she is frequently impressed by the students’ talents. “Sometimes I forget that they’re fifteen, sixteen and seventeen [years old].”

The organization provides multiple levels of programming for the students. When students finish the workshops and student exhibitions, they can move to level two, which gets the students out of the classroom, advanced programs manager Sol Alvarez said. She said the students begin to work with partner organizations, such as the Otis College of Art and Design, the Art Center College of Design and Street Poets Inc.

“That’s a huge difference than our level one classes,” Alvarez said, adding that the students “dive in and take a risk” to do the intensive, three-month program. “It’s a different animal … but still same pool of students — just moving up the ladder.”

Once level two is completed, students can then pursue scholarships and internships through artworxLA. Alvarez said the partner organizations provide a few slots for the students.

“And that kind of opens the door,” she added. “I think it’s humongous, especially when you’re dealing with kids that are in that transition between high school and college. …Our hope is then to keep them going to some sort of college.”

Villegas said the organization is currently in the midst of a four-year study to see how it is impacting graduation rates, but staffers are pleased with the results they’ve seen.

“There is a significant difference,” she said.

Brophy said artworxLA started out of her Echo Park home and has since branched out significantly. She said the programming is a “great way” to teach needed skills to the students. The founder said the courses teach collaboration, give the students confidence to speak out and take risks, and offer skills that are valuable in the job market.

“They’re learning good skills that will translate into successful life paths,” Brophy said.

The Hollywood Media Arts Academy has been in operation for three years and enrolls 50 students. The academy, which draws students from Hollywood High School and Fairfax High School, among others, currently has a waiting list.

Students do not pay tuition, as artworxLA relies on city, state, county and federal funds. The nonprofit also seeks private donations.

For information or donate, visit www.artworxla.org. The academy, as well as the organization’s administrative offices, are located at 1140 N. Citrus Ave.