Flood-affected youth tell their stories // Artists Respond Guest Blog

This guest blog is from Artists Respond microgrant recipient Shooting Stars Youtheatre, which hosted a series of creative workshops for youth affected by the floods of 2022. Learn more about this project at kyrux.org/microgrants/2024, and connect with Shooting Stars Youtheatre at lctonstage.org/shooting-stars.

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In November 2024, Shooting Stars Youtheatre, Appalachian Arts Alliance, and Buckhorn School brought together students from across 3rd, 8th, and 11th grades to reflect on their experiences of the flooding of July 2022.

Hear from Olivia Combs (3rd Grade Teacher, Buckhorn School) about the students’ work:

Get a behind the scenes look at the students’ creative, multimedia process telling their stories of the flood:

This project was featured in the Hazard Herald article, “Flood-affected students find creative outlet through arts initiative” by Justin Begley.

“All of this is geared towards the night the rain fell and the next morning. So children can share their stories of what they experienced…The thing that’s so special about this is it’s so unique to everyone. Everyone experienced it very differently, and they all communicate what the flood meant to them and how they experienced it.”

—Octavia Biggs (Program Director, Shooting Stars Youtheatre at Lexington Children’s Theatre)

Check out more photos of students’ creations and a recap of the exhibition event on the Buckhorn School Facebook page: