Youngstown State University’s Students Motivated by the Arts program showcases the acting,

Youngstown State University’s Students Motivated by the Arts program showcases the acting, writing and visual arts talents of students taking arts education classes at the SMARTS Center this summer. The students are participants in the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority’s After School Youth Summer Program. On Wednesday, those students showed off their work in the SMARTS Center in the DeYor Peforming Arts Center, West Federal Street, downtown Youngstown. Above, from left, Shyandra McCall, 12; Kenny Franklin, 16; and Chaunteen Wright, 6, look over murals on display. At left, Kenny displayed work used in the SMARTS animation program, which was discussed by Maryam Dennis, 9. The partnership between SMARTS and YMHA began last summer. This summer, up to 40 children, ages 8 to 15, have been involved in the arts at the SMARTS Center three days a week for seven weeks. The program was funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant.