Dearest Deep Community,
This fall, we celebrated 15 years of Deep Center’s work in Savannah. Additionally, this month we were selected by Voices for Georgia’s Children, as one of four recipients of their 2023 Big Voice for Children Award. This recognition is a testament to our leadership in youth advocacy and our years of cultivating, empowering, and uplifting youth stories. We are honored by this award, which is only made possible by the partnership of people like you, who’ve supported our work towards a more just and equitable Savannah.
As I continue to settle into my role as Executive Director, I have been grateful to witness the way Deep and the larger community find opportunities to work together for the benefit of young people. Deep has long seen art as a tool for healing and recognized the power of creative expression to drive transformation. Whether through creative writing, visual art, slam poetry, or advocacy and community organizing, Deep is committed to supporting all avenues of expression that increase opportunities for Savannah youth. Now is the time to celebrate this programmatic excellence with supporters like you.
I want to share some of the recent feedback we have received from young people whose lives Deep has touched. Longtime program participant Lee Nease reflected on the internal impact of their years in Deep’s programs, “My time with Deep has made me a better member of my community and changed the way I communicate with people. It has impacted how I think, and how the people around me think and communicate. “
Aly Keys, a Deep program alumni and graduating senior at Savannah State University, said, “Deep and the Young Author Project are the only reasons why I’m in school for journalism. Deep helped me find what I’m good at.” Aly still feels Deep’s presence in college, sharing “I have done a lot of tutoring as a way to give back. I am big into mentorship. I do that because when I was in Deep I had someone teach me. I want to do my best to give back to others through my love and talents in writing.”
In the coming year, Deep Center will continue to impact the lives of young people, their families, and our broader community. We ask you to join us by supporting our work to inspire, uplift, and educate the next generation of artists, poets, journalists, and activists.
Please consider a tax-deductible gift to Deep as part of our 2023 campaign. We need your help to reach our goal of $50,000 to support our programs. Your gift before the end of the year will enable us to continue to meet the needs of our community by adapting, innovating, and creating loving spaces for more youth like Lee and Aly.
To support our young people and give, you can visit us online at deepcenter.org/give.
Thank you for your partnership and support of Deep’s transformational work with youth.
Sincerely,
Dr. Holly Whitfield, PhD
Executive Director
P.S. Donations at any level make an impact. We encourage you to consider a one-time gift or become a Monthly Donor at any amount on our website deepcenter.org/give.