During this past summer, the Villa launched a youth contest to design a t-shirt that would depict the Villa’s commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement. From among the amazing entries, a group of Villa staff helped to judge and select the finalist: Michelle, a Villa of Hope School senior this year.
Her winning entry depicts a dramatic silhouette of a black woman, with flowers in her hair, and typography reminiscent of the 60s peace movement, with the addition of the word “UNITY.” The shirt design has been enthusiastically received by our Villa family, as well as the community!
Meet Michelle
“I felt very hopeless before I attended the Villa, and I was often confused and worried about how I would get my school work done,” Michelle said recently. Her journey at the Villa now has given her great appreciation for the school’s support staff, and how they help her organize her day. She is optimistic and future-focused.
Her artistic ability is unmistakable, and she has put together an impressive portfolio. She submitted her entry for the contest as a digital sketch, and then during her internship with the Villa’s Marketing Department, she was able to use professional software to remaster the art as a vector drawing, sreenprint-ready for t-shirt production.
Michelle now has a job in the community, as she heads toward graduation in 2021. She had not always envisioned herself graduating from high school; but now it is a solid goal for her, as well as pursuit of a college degree in art and science!
The Villa Store
Powered by Workforce Development youth with assistance from job coaches, the Villa will be fulfilling orders for the #BLM shirts on campus. Youth are currently working on organizing inventory, and learning about the shipping and handling process. All orders are accepted via our website, and you can order yours today at https://villaofhope.org/buy-blm-shirts!