About the CAC member and Site (2017-2019)

Mia Massimino is a performer, painter, comedic writer currently based in Baltimore Maryland. She is currently serving for a second year term at Access Art in Morrell Park. Access Art is a youth-focused community arts organization that inspires personal success by providing a safe space for hands-on learning in a variety of artistic media combined with civic engagement and leadership development for elementary, middle and high school youth. Access Art is located in Morrell Park in southwest Baltimore.

"Lamont’s Transformation"

Lamont has been coming to Access Art almost as long as I have worked there and he has always been a handful. He has great energy and is hilarious but gets frustrated with others and himself easily and has paid little attention to the rules or culture of access art. Over the past year I have been in close communication with his mom and I have had many conversations with Lamont about his behavior and ways we can have a better time together at Access Art. I have tried to start calling his mom when he has successes in his behavior and not just issues. Recently I have seen a real shift in Lamont's behavior. He checks in with me and says "Ms. Mia aren't I having a really good day?" and "Ms. Mia do you think I am doing well today?" He also apologizes when he sees himself behaving outside of how he knows he should or wants to in order to have a good day at the center. He still gets frustrated at times and speaks disrespectfully but I think he is developing more tools to control his own behavior and learn how to have fun while still respecting others. This shift really makes me feel my small successes as a teacher and how I can help and impact the youth over time.