Clayton High School Student Says Hands Out (Not Up or Down)

Hands Up (not up or down) is an art program created and organized by Clayton High students Bry Rechan and Zoe Bowman and supported by fellow classmates to help heal the divide in our city.

Hands Out was designed to help with those students struggling in Ferguson-Florissant and surrounding school districts by providing various arts programs and provide an outlet to the tension mounting in their neighborhood. The Clayton teens raised more than $5,000 to underwrite the program.

“My classmates and I wanted to be a part of the solution to this negative situation and demonstrate that we care about Ferguson and other north county area children.” said Rechan. ”We want to let these schools and their students know that the community at large supports them.”

The Hands Out program offers various art and cultural experiences to children ages 4-12 and provides a nutritious lunch or snacks. The students also walk away with items such as art and school supplies and gift certificates from local businesses.

Mary Reale, assistant to Larry Larrew, acting superintendent of the Ferguson-Florissant School District said the Hands Out program was exactly what the district needed. Doug Erwin, fine arts content leader for Ferguson-Florissant said when the teachers heard about the Clayton High School students reaching out to us and the Hands Out program, they cried.

The first program was held on August 30 at the First Baptist Church in Ferguson.  Juan Chavez of the Northside Project along with the high school students offered an inspiring artistic endeavor for the 35 children who attended. Hands Out hopes to work with other St. Louis art-based nonprofits such as Craft Alliance, Saint Louis Art Museum and Laumeier Sculpture Park for future offerings. For more information, contact Bry Rechan at 314-374-2657.