Finding Their Voice Through the Arts

April 1, 2026

Students who struggle in traditional school settings can often feel alone or “less than.” When the VAPA Foundation first set out to roll out its Sparx Program for expressive arts, we worked with the San Diego Unified School District to specifically identify the schools, and most importantly the students, who would benefit most from the program. Through interviews with principals, the team assessed priorities ranging from student interests to specific areas of growth. From there, arts organizations were carefully matched with each school to ensure the strongest possible alignment.

One such program is at ALBA Community Day School in North Park. ALBA (Alternative Learning for Behavior and Attitude) is an alternative education setting serving middle and high school students who have faced challenges in traditional schools. Our arts program is tailored to strengthen the core academic skills of students while also creating space for self-expression, confidence-building and connection.

Sparx Program partners Playwrights Project and ArtReach worked directly with students through theater and visual arts. Each organization brought a distinct creative approach, offering programs that helped students explore complex experiences, connect with one another, and contribute to a stronger school culture.

“ALBA is a powerful example of what happens when we align the right creative partners with the specific needs of a school community,” said Beth Bayless, Co-Coordinator of the Sparx Grant Program. “By integrating the arts into a setting that prioritizes both academic and social-emotional growth, we’re seeing students engage in new ways and build skills that extend far beyond the classroom.”

With ArtReach, students handcrafted a large scale paper mache phoenix that is displayed proudly at the school entrance. The rising phoenix was chosen as a symbol of resilience and renewal, reflecting the journeys of many students at ALBA who are working to overcome challenges and start fresh. Students working with Playwrights Project wrote scenes for a play about incarceration, a topic that connects to the lived experiences of many in the ALBA community. The project culminated in a panel event where students spoke with formerly incarcerated individuals who shared their journeys and perspectives on second chances. Engaging with complex topics through playwriting provided students with a meaningful way to process their experiences, reflect, and share their voices.