I worked with a group of elementary-aged students in our Make Your Mark program on an art and activism workshop inspired by the idea that young people have important things to say about the world around them. Many of the students are still developing confidence in expressing their ideas and discovering how their voices can create change.

We began with a game called “Match the Activist,” where students examined images of artists, activists, and changemakers and worked together to identify who they were and what causes they supported. The activity sparked curiosity and conversation as students made connections between creativity, leadership, and social change.

After reading The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith and discussing the role of artists as community changemakers, students created their own Artivist Statement Buttons. Each student chose a word, phrase, or symbol that represented something they cared about or wanted others to remember. Some focused on kindness, equality, community, or environmental care, while others created messages about being themselves and standing up for others.

The button-making process gave students an opportunity to turn their ideas into wearable art. As they shared their designs, many spoke proudly about the messages they had chosen and why those messages mattered to them. One student explained that their button was a reminder to “be brave even when something feels hard,” while another shared that their design was meant to encourage people to treat everyone fairly.

By the end of the workshop, students left not only with handmade buttons but with a stronger understanding that art can be a powerful tool for communication, self-expression, and advocacy. The activity helped students see themselves as artists with voices worth hearing and ideas worth sharing.