Hi, I am Carlos “Bunky” Hernandez, a queer, non-binary, first-generation student and San Diego native. I grew up in the culturally and artistically rich neighborhood of Barrio Logan. Working at ArtReach, which is in the primarily queer neighborhood of Hillcrest, San Diego, was an amazing opportunity for me.

I was introduced to this opportunity by the Transforming Futures program from the University of California Santa Cruz, a program that  “aims to create opportunities and eliminate financial barriers for UC Santa Cruz undergraduate students in the Social Sciences.” I learned about this program through Resilient Scholars at UCSC and was connected to various other programs. Still, I ultimately decided to pursue this opportunity as it aligned much more with my interests.

ArtReach stood out to me because of its approach to teaching. The way youth can express themselves in various forms of visual art is inspiring. Being a part of this process and facilitating the self-expression of young children is a very fulfilling line of work for me. I am highly aligned with the teaching pedagogy here at ArtReach, which is to inspire the youth, celebrate the creative process, the finished product, and be a positive, thoughtful role model.

In my time at ArtReach, my days would consist of fostering a happy environment through interactions with the kids and befriending them. Additionally, floating around the room, complimenting the works of young artists, offering support, and redirecting children’s attention through questions about their art, and generating creative ideas for their projects. In addition to this, I functioned as a teaching assistant by prepping, cleaning, and distributing art materials to the kids. I enjoyed doing several projects alongside the kiddos; in those moments, I was able to connect and form close relationships with many of the young artists. With an emphasis on creative expression that celebrated every step of the process, I tried to keep the kids inspired to build their confidence by showing them that trying new mediums is fun and that they truly can do anything!

It was awesome to form such a great relationship with my coworkers and the students. I truly felt fulfilled each day I came here. I loved watching children ignite their creativity, to see what stories, emotions, or feelings they wished to convey into art. I laughed many times, making silly jokes with all the students while learning about them. Many kids would ask for special works of art made by me, and I, too, received personalized artworks from them, which I will cherish.

The teachers and staff here made me feel welcome, safe, and heard. Thanks to them, I felt comfortable asking questions, for advice, and direction. I was able to collaborate with the teachers to create fun projects and games for the kids. I also gained valuable teaching experience by co-teaching with my knowledgeable and kind coworkers. Overall, I loved working in such a positive and creative environment and would highly recommend ArtReach. I feel very lucky to have been a part of this program and hope to come back next summer!