The North Lake Campus gallery was filled with color, music and emotion for the final showcase of a five-week summer program. The work of students in the Creative Solutions program, run by Big Thought, a youth development organization that helps young people build life and job skills through art, was displayed in the gallery with a performance in the theater during the summer break.

“These are youth that are part of the Big Thought program,” said Evan Cleveland, senior director of programs.

He explained that most of the students were on probation and referred by their probation officers. Through the program, they created music or visual art and learned skills like time management and teamwork.

“Some basic things that will help them as they leave the program, leave probation and can move forward with their lives,” Cleveland said.

Not all students in the program were on probation this year. Cleveland said that some had joined the program before and asked to return, even after finishing probation.

“They came, they enjoyed it and they asked to come back,” he said.

Though none of the participants are college students yet, Cleveland said being on campus helped them imagine their futures.

“It’s a chance for us to give the kids access to a college campus, let them see it, feel it, be a part of it,” he said.

The event featured both visual art and music. Half of the 35 students created visual artwork and the other half performed songs they had written.

“They’ve been working with poets [and] music producers,” Cleveland said.

Their music was recorded and uploaded to SoundCloud. Visitors could scan a QR code on a CD case to listen.

Kyvon, one of the performers, said, he enjoyed the program. He was part of the program last year as well. This time, he performed a song he plans to release on Spotify and YouTube.

“Keep on doing your dreams and keep on going,” he said, offering advice to his fellow students and adding that it’s important to ignore negativity.

Rossil Walter, a teacher and guest at the event, was moved by what he saw.

“I cried,” he said. “To see the kids expressing themselves, having a good time, being creative was really moving for me.”

The event was not a competition. It was a showcase to celebrate the students’ creativity and growth.

“What we hope to see is these students finding their way here,” Cleveland said, referring to Dallas College.

The evening ended with a round of performances and, with it, a reminder that creativity can be a powerful step toward a better future.