Shepperson
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Community Artist Soteria Shepperson Aspires to Guide Area Youth

Simon Tan

CHAPEL HILL, NC – Soteria Shepperson puts on her gas mask, shakes her spray bottle and — choo. She’s making a spray paint.

Shepperson

Shepperson has been making spray paint for years, and some of her works have been posted in The Frame & Print Shop, a storefront in University Place Shopping Center. She considers herself an artist.

“Nothing like being able to travel and learn the ways in which ART has liberated the masses, shined a light on what’s known and unknown. We love the power of intergenerational connection, beautiful stories shared, lessons learned and time…time we won’t get again,” she wrote in an Instagram post a week ago.

Believing in the power of art, Shepperson started a program called INKounter to help teenagers who are involved with legal issues. As stated, the participants will be paired with a mentor who will help them “heal and transform through art.” Ultimately, Shepperson believes, this program will help its participants find themselves.

“We’re trying to help them not get a criminal record so they can come through our program and do an art project,” Shepperson said. “We’re really trying to use ark in any kind of ways and then sometimes their project can be presented to the judge as like, ‘Hey, this kid is getting better.'”

Some works of the participants are also displayed at The Frame & Print Shop, and all of them have been sold.

Transformation

In May 2020, the death of George Floyd dismayed and infuriated the Black community. Under the heat of the death, Shepperson decided to expand her program. She set up the Community and Art Center to host her nonprofit Grow Your World. The center, located at 901 W. Main Street, Carrboro, also provides its participants with tutoring services.

The well-equipped center opens up possibilities. It provides a place where participants can meet their mentors and work on what they aspire to do. It also allows the participants to use laptops, paint, make various coffees and teas, and study.

So far, the nonprofit has been included in numerous initiatives, like Carolina Hunger Initiative, to make the world a better place. One of its participants has been placed second place in echoReverb’s mental health and wellness ideation sprint.