The Fokus’d Kreatives Apprenticeship Showcase
Shines At 500 Seneca
Written by Ekaete Bailey | Copy Editor - Kei Oko
Images by Kalvin Booker (Through His Lens Photography)
Video by Luqman Muhammad
On Friday August 14th, the 2026 Get Fokus’d Apprentices shared their creative work with the community during the Get Fokus’d Apprenticeship Showcase held on the 4th floor of 500 Seneca Street. Stunning black and white and color photography lined the walls, illustrating some of the events the apprentices covered during their 6-week program. In addition to the photography taken by apprentices Kaydynce, Tamera and Amilkar, an ipad played three videos that Zauria, an apprentice, filmed, edited and narrated.
Next to the 4th floor hallway gallery, a small room displayed four personalized tables, one for each apprentice highlighting a few of their beloved items, outlining the social determinant of health they focused on during their 6-week apprenticeship and their showing their DISC (a personality and behavioral model) assessment. Each of the four apprentices had some degree or combination of steadiness (S) and conscientiousness (C) as personality strengths.
Aitina Fareed Cooke, Founder of Get Fokus’d Productions, began mentoring young creatives when she was a young creative herself. Influenced by people like Lauren Tent from CEPA Gallery, who mentored her along her creative journey, From the start of her careers, Fareed-Cooke has sought out innovative, consistent and intentional ways to not only support teens and adults in their creative giftings, but also to help them earn money through their art. The Get Fokus’d Apprenticeship was born from that heart posture.
Originally called Young & Fokus’d, since 2017 the program has creatively and financially supported approximately 50 teens and young people. “It has always featured a paid apprenticeship. I’m very proud of that. We put funds aside for this program. It's in the budget, and it will always be in the budget,” Fareed Cooke said. Interested in sharing a new narrative on our youth to debunk the myth that young people in the newer generations are all "running amuck and doing all the wrong things,” Fareed-Cooke emphasizes is another way the Get Fokus’d Apprenticeship is fighting to support all of the social determinants of health and tell the broader story of a diverse community of people, specifically young people of color.
This year, Aitina leaned on Jessica Stoddard, to take on the reins of the day-to-day management of the program. Stoddard, Chair of Digital Media and Communications at Villa Maria College’s program, met Aitina in 2022, when Aitina began an adjunct faculty position at the college. “This has honestly been a very creative and fun extension of some of the things I do at Villa, but it's pushing me as a teacher,” Stoddard said. “Outside of the restraint of the classroom, I feel like young people are really drawn to the exploratory nature of the apprenticeship. It creates a lot of freedom and autonomy in their creative decision making.” Stoddard shared that she hopes to take back best practices she learned from managing the program to her students at Villa.
A potentially life-changing opportunity for young artists, Fareed-Cooke chooses the creatives she works with for her program. “Curating the program is very intentional. I come alongside young people who need support. These internships are for a specific type of yong creative,” she said. Essentially, relationships have already been established before Fareed-Cooke approaches individuals with the internship opportunity.
Eight years into the formal annual program, a family of creatives are blossoming out of the vision Fareed-Cooke established. “I think I was really surprised at actually being able to see my talents in full bloom. I feel like usually when I see other creative programs I am not always able to show my full creativity, I feel like I have with this program,” Kaydynce, a 2026 Get Fokus’d Apprentice said. Her sentiment was shared by many apprentices past and present.
When asked how she thought the showcase went on Friday, Stoddard replied, “It’s amazing to see how their hard work and talent brought together a diverse group of people clearly eager to celebrate them and their efforts. As with all things tied to Get Fokus’d Productions, it was a wholesome evening, one that shined a spotlight on a bright group of young people who are striving to actualize their dreams and ambitions.
Ways to take action
Ideation by Aitina Fareed-Cooke
“The Fokus’d Kreatives Apprenticeship Showcase is a reminder that young people thrive when their creativity is taken seriously, their work is seen, and they are paid for the value they bring. Programs like this help young creatives build skills, confidence, portfolios, relationships, and a clearer picture of what is possible for their future.”
For Funders & Institutions
Fund paid apprenticeships, stipends, transportation, meals, equipment, and showcase opportunities so young creatives can participate without having to choose between learning and earning.
Support programs long enough for relationships and skills to grow. Six weeks can open a door, but sustained mentorship, advanced training, and paid creative opportunities help young people keep moving forward.
Invest in youth-led exhibitions, screenings, performances, and portfolio reviews that give emerging creatives a public place to share their work and meet potential collaborators.
Make room for community-based arts organizations to shape workforce development programs in ways that reflect young people’s interests, strengths, and real-life needs.
For Our Neighbors
Attend youth showcases, exhibitions, screenings, and performances. Your presence lets young people know their work matters and their community is paying attention.
Share a young person’s creative work with someone who may be able to offer encouragement, a paid opportunity, mentorship, equipment, or a helpful connection.
Ask the young people in your life what they are creating and what support they need. Sometimes a ride, a quiet space to work, a listening ear, or help sharing their portfolio can make a real difference.
Support programs that pay and train young creatives through donations, volunteering, supplies, or sharing information with families and neighbors.
For Community Leaders & Educators
Create opportunities for students to share their work publicly through a school gallery, screening, pop-up exhibit, community newsletter, or presentation night.
Build project-based assignments that let students document a community event, tell the story of a local leader, or explore an issue that matters to them through photography, video, audio, writing, or design.
Invite local creatives and former apprentices into classrooms and youth programs to talk honestly about their career paths, creative process, challenges, and lessons learned.
Help students connect their creative interests to future pathways by offering portfolio reviews, career conversations, paid learning opportunities, and introductions to local arts organizations.
For Artists & Storytellers
Make room in your practice to mentor an emerging creative. Share a skill, offer feedback on a portfolio, invite them to observe part of your process, or recommend them for an opportunity when they are ready.
Pay young creatives when you ask them to contribute meaningful work to a project. Their time, perspective, and skill have value.
Partner with schools, youth organizations, and community programs to lead a workshop, host a studio visit, or create a small project that gives young people a chance to learn by doing.
Use your platform to celebrate young creators and share their work with care, permission, and proper credit.