The moment colorful bins of markers, paper, and unexpected treasures rolled through the classroom door, a ripple of excitement spread across the room. Students leaned forward in their seats, eyes fixed on the materials, guessing what they would create next. For many children, Raíces had become the highlight of the week: a place where curiosity is celebrated. Since 2023, Daphne Art Foundation’s Multi-Arts Children’s Studio Program, Raíces, has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo to provide free arts instruction during the summer. This year, the program reached a milestone, expanding into year-round opportunities for young artists.
Growing Through Community
Raíces continued its partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laredo, offering twice-weekly classes during a nine-week spring semester before returning with its weeklong summer program. The initiative also celebrated its first collaboration with Laredo Independent School District, serving Heights, Macdonell, Ryan, Santo Niño, and Zachry Elementary Schools during their afterschool care program.
Across every site, classrooms transformed into lively studios where imagination took center stage. Students layered texture into abstract compositions, built pop-up room nooks, assembled found-object sculptures, doodled onto collaborative community quilts, and created self-portraits reflecting who they are and where they come from. Hands shot into the air during discussions as students eagerly connected each week’s lesson to their own lives, demonstrating that creativity flourishes when children are given space to explore.
The spring semester concluded with an exhibition at the Laredo ISD Performing Arts Center, where students proudly showcased their work alongside secondary artists. For many families, it was the first time seeing their child’s artwork displayed in a gallery setting. Three Raíces students were also recognized during the district’s Fine Arts Extravaganza, celebrating their artistic growth.
Students received Raíces T-shirts and a take-home kit of materials to extend their making beyond the classroom, all at no cost to families. Principals, club directors, and district staff praised the program for creating spaces where self-expression could flourish.
The Instructors Behind the Magic
At the heart of every lesson are art instructors Esteban Alarcón, Génesis Galdamez Blanco, and Tania Rojas, who collaborated beautifully in preparing thoughtful presentations and delivered outstanding lessons with the utmost professionalism and care. Throughout the program, they supported students’ self-expression and continually explored innovative ways to strengthen and evolve the experience for the children they serve.
Alarcón, a Laredo-based artist and art educator, fosters inclusive, student-centered classrooms where exploration, collaboration, and creative confidence thrive.
Galdamez Blanco, a Guatemalan-born ceramic artist and art educator, introduces students to themes of heritage, resilience, and identity, reminding them that their stories are worth telling.
Rojas, a Laredo-based mixed-media artist and art educator, encourages storytelling and experimentation through art inspired by everyday life and human connection.
As Raíces continues to grow, so, too, does its investment in creativity, community, and the future of Laredo.
