Aiyana DeYoung-Martin

Strong leaders make communities stronger. Now more than ever we need strong leaders who tell the truth, shake us out of silence, and propel us to action. This describes Aiyana DeYoung-Martin. She might not see herself this way, but this is how I see her and the role she plays at Arts In Reach. Aiyana began as a program participant at AIR, but as she grew older, she volunteered as a teen mentor with younger participants. When her mother came down with COVID last spring, she took on extra responsivities at home but continue to seek out AIR for moments of respite and to continue to help younger teens express themselves. She volunteered for all of AIR’s summer 2020 programs and has participated in over 30 additional programs and workshops since last fall. Aiyana has been an advocate for social justice, and when protests erupted last spring, she marched with Black Lives Matter and for gender inclusivity, proudly waved a rainbow flag for justice. She encouraged everyone she came into contact with, in-person and online, to vote and make their voices be heard. This fall when AIR presented the opportunity to dive into documentary filmmaking, Aiyana jumped at the chance to explore the experiences of teens during the pandemic. She not only shared her story but also documented the stories of other teens who became socially isolated as they managed quarantine at home and remote schooling. Aiyana took the lead on this project and, along with her filmmaking mentor Catherine Stewart, produced a poignant short film that tells an important, and until now untold, story about the lives and mental health of teenage girls during the pandemic. Aiyana is a humble, unassuming, and honest person who has found ways to shake us out of silence and to propel us to action. She is a leader who has made AIR and our community stronger.