Clarksdale youth are finding their voice and being given the opportunity to change their lives and in turn change their community through Griot Arts, Inc., a non-profit arts education organization. “Griot is a West African title for the community storyteller,” smiles Emily Wisseman, Griot Young Program Director. “We are an after school arts program so part of what we want to teach our students is how to tell their stories through the various arts (music, dance, visual arts, theater). We talk a lot about being culture makers and how we can use the arts to create culture at Griot and in Clarksdale.”
Griot Arts, Inc. was founded in 2011 by Cali Noland, who currently serves as the Executive Director of Griot Arts, Inc. Under the umbrella of Griot Arts, Inc., are three different programs including the Griot Youth Program, Mint Griot, and Meraki Job Training. The Griot Youth Program is an after school arts program for 7th-12th graders and it runs Monday-Thursday during the school year with additional summer programming. Mint Griot is an after school arts program for 3rd-6th grade students that runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Meraki Job Training Program is a job training program centered around a coffee roaster for youth 16-24 years old.
“As one the few creative youth development organizations serving the Mississippi Delta, Griot’s after-school arts programs offer a creative, compassionate, spiritual, and nurturing community for young people to develop their futures,” smiles Emily. Through strengthening its core arts programs, Griot is assisting its students to discover their life’s passion and to utilize the life- and job-skills they develop to realize their goals and to live life to the fullest.
“As one the few creative youth development organizations serving the Mississippi Delta, Griot’s after-school arts programs offer a creative, compassionate, spiritual, and nurturing community for young people to develop their futures,” smiles Emily. Through strengthening its core arts programs, Griot is assisting its students to discover their life’s passion and to utilize the life- and job-skills they develop to realize their goals and to live life to the fullest.
  |   “The students’ moto is ‘We are Griot. We are culture-makers using creativity, compassion, and intentional community to bring hope to the Mississippi Delta. We bring the change we seek through sharing our creativity, focused and disciplined work, and discovering our God-given calling,’ says Emily. |
Many of the students stick with Griot for several years and improve their grades, attitudes, artistic skills, and have hope for their future. Many of the students that have graduated come back and volunteer. “This shows the development of the servant's hearts we are hoping for. We have also seen a lot of our students grow in their faith and use this grounding to help face difficult situations and not lose hope,” remarks Emily.
Griot is using the arts to actively engage students in making their community a better place through the arts and community service. “Griot is here for the community-we want to help our students become servant leaders,” smiles Emily.
Article written by Jill Dale. Photos provided by Griot Arts Inc.
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