Detroit Children's Gallery fundraiser to bring art therapy to city youth

The Baltimore Gallery is hosting a fundraiser this Saturday entitled "the Burden," aiming to raise money for the Detroit Children's Gallery —  a program working to help children experiencing mental, physical and/or environmental stressors in their lives.

With the help of spoken word artists and musicians, the event aims to not only raise funds for the gallery, but bring to light issues negatively affecting Black lives and mental health. 

"Event hosts see an opportunity to turnkey current frustrations and sentiments into progressive thought and proactive actions that support Detroit’s most vulnerable individuals: its children," states a press release for the event.

Speakers include Dominique Christina, Phoenix Eagle, Jassmine Parks, Elle Crawford, Denise Smith, Brittany Rogers, and more. 

"People are feeling many different ways, given the fact that we have legislation that passed that will impact the quality of education our children will have in the city, we have seen things in national headlines and on social media that makes people feel there are less value on certain lives," event organizer Jillian Webb told MT. "So as a community that is feeling that, near and far, we wanted to create a space where folks could come and express their feelings about the burden of being in this time and in an environment where you're not always given access to the things that would allow you you to have the best quality of life." 

Money raised will go towards art supplies, facilitation support and overhead costs associated with the launch of the program this fall.

"The most promising part of any community is its children, and so if we can allow people to channel their feelings into productive actions that help our children then we win all around," Webb said.

The Burden is from 6-8 p.m., and the show begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. Entry is free, and donations can be made in person at the event, or online. For more information, you can visit the event's Facebook page. 

"We want to commune with other Detroit residents... we are one," Webb said. "There should be safe space to share our burdens and, with each other's support, lay them down."