Collaboration with 60 participants

New Vision, 2019, fiber, rubber bands, glue, painted wood frame, 23 3/8 x 23 3/8 x 1 3/8 inches

In 2019, New Visions Charter High School AMS II hosted a one-day Scrollathon that brought high school students from the South Bronx together for engaging sessions. As a charter school, AMS II prioritizes the holistic well-being of its students, offering them crucial opportunities for success beyond their secondary education. Throughout the Scrollathon, students actively participated in both individual and collaborative art making. The subsequent day featured Steven and William Ladd as guest speakers during the school’s career day, sharing their personal journeys in navigating the rewards and challenges of pursuing a professional career in the arts.

Scrollathon expanded its impact by launching a paid internship program in 2021. The program aims to equip select AMS II seniors with professional skills, enrich their life experiences, and promote social justice and collaborative interaction.

During a passionate Zoom presentation, the Ladds shared their vision of a paid internship program for underserved communities. A receptive audience member, recognizing the transformative power of internships, generously offered to fund the program. With their support secured, the Ladds selected six students for the inaugural internship phase.

Portrait Mural of 60 participants, Scrollathon, Bronx, NY

History of the National Scrollathon Internship Program

Artists and brothers Steven and William Ladd founded Scrollathon in 2006, engaging underserved communities to experience the energy created through artistic collaboration. To date, Scrollathon has engaged over 10,000 people of diverse ages, backgrounds and abilities in making large-scale public artworks throughout the United States. 2022 marks the launch of the National Scrollathon, an inclusive arts collaboration focused on illuminating the American story through the voices of thousands of its citizens. This groundbreaking engagement project, involving monumental artworks, Portrait Murals featuring every participant, and video “my-story” recordings, will culminate in an exhibition in 2026 representing 56 American communities in celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

In conjunction with 2026’s National Scrollathon, a paid internship intensive with students from New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math & Science II will mentor select students to achieve proficiency with professional skill sets, to set goals with a plan for seeing them through high school, and to elevate their overall life experiences and expectations. The internship program aims to present opportunities for future generations, carrying on Scrollathon’s legacy of promoting social justice and collaboration. Students will:

• Fill out an application, including an essay of interest

• Submit an interest essay and participate in a professional interview

• Understand and commit to schedules, duties and responsibilities

• Obtain a bank account and complete paperwork to receive payment

• Collaborate on a project taking place across the Nation

• Participate in weekly assessments with managers/artists

• Evaluate possible employment for the summer and beyond

The goal of the internship program is to create a safe space for students interested in the arts to participate in a national project under the supervision of their high school and to seek summer employment in some branch of the arts to gain experience and identify opportunities for financial support before entering college.

Community Groups

New Visions Charter High School AMS II Administration, Faculty, Security and Students

Support

The Bronx Scrollathon was made possible by Steven and William Ladd. Special thanks to Angela Veninga and Sandy Manessis.