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The Youth Life Center of the Arts, located in Riverdale, Georgia, delivered an unforgettable experience on June 28th, 2025, with its summer camp showcase themed “BYOB — Be Your Own Brand.”

Check out the event recap on YouTube:

The energy inside the building was electric and deeply inspiring. Organized by Claressa Williams, who takes immense pride in running this transformative summer program for students in grades 4 through 8, the showcase celebrated the power of choice and self-discovery at a pivotal age. This event brought together friends, family, and community to celebrate the youth and their accomplishments this summer. As Claressa explains, “when children are younger, parents often enroll them in activities primarily for daytime care. But as kids grow older, they deserve the freedom to choose their own paths, explore new interests, and build skills that fuel their dreams and develop their talents.It’s so important to let kids dream and find what lights them up early on,” she shared.

The program featured diverse segments, including fashion design led by Vanessa Henderson, through her Van Miller Sewing Academy program. Students learned sewing fundamentals, created their own pieces, and proudly wore their designs down the runway. In the music segment, guided by Josh Covil and Synseer students learned how to play new instruments and even recorded an original song in a professional studio.Community building rounded out the experience where students formed new friendships and learned firsthand the value of teamwork and shared goals. From field trips to pick out fabric to recording sessions at a real studio, these young creatives received true hands- on training every step of the way.

Another highlight was the modeling and dance segment, led by Yumi Azeiko — a dedicated professional model coach, trained dance, and mentor determined to give young aspiring students the guidance she wishes she’d had when she was younger. Through her newly launched Model Coach Yumi Academy, in partnership with The Youth Life Center, Yumi introduces kids to the fundamentals of the modeling industry, emphasizing confidence, discipline, and authenticity.

For Yumi, modeling is an art form whose true foundations have been overlooked and lost in recent years. She believes it’s up to today’s professionals to nurture and guide the next generation properly. This showcase marked the debut presentation of hermodel academy and it’s only the beginning. The next series of sessions is already underway at the Youth Life Center, with another grand finale showcase set for July 26th.

Events like this remind us how essential it is to create safe, inspiring spaces for young people to explore their passions, gain valuable skills, and express themselves boldly and unapologetically. The Youth Life Center of the Arts continues to prove that when we invest in our youth, we empower them to become confident leaders and creators of their own unique brands and that’s certainly a legacy worth celebrating!

For more information on how to get involved, visit youthlifecenter.org

Photo Credits: Asante “Cloud” Watkins.