Costume Ball: Face-painting for Halloween for CT Youth
This year for Halloween, my friends and I naively attempted to trick-or-treat in New Haven neighborhoods. However, after wandering for a solid amount of time, we came across nothing. It wasn't until months later that I learned how gun violence is and has always been one of New Haven's most prevalent issues. At the height of gun violence fatalities in 1990, all night-time activitiesĀ for youth, such as trick-or-treating on Halloween, were wiped from the city's traditions. Only recently has the city took initiative to rebuild community and encourage Halloween-based festivities for youth. I feel grateful to have taken part in this rebuild. Volunteering with Arts in CT allowed me to reliveĀ the wickedly creative, design-monster feeling I would conjure for this holiday. I feel so much joy seeing the local kids light up to that spark of Halloween and fully transforming into their characters once they get their face paints.
Working with these youth was the sweetest Halloween treat! I loved seeing the youth of New Haven and adding to their spirit of Halloween.Ā From Black Panther, to Mr. Skeleton, to the Lion from the Wiz, to fairies, to mermaids...these kids lit up with these face paints!
