2024 FlyKickz Community Project 
Preparing to do something you have never done requires hardwork, dedication, patience, resilience and a lot of Faith!
November 2023, FlyKickz submitted a proposal for a second grant idea that would feature a collaborative pop-up exhibition and the following day a youth art workshop. Although, the vision was clear the funding at the time was not until I Am Trenton Community Foundation and Isles Inc. awarded FlyKickz with a grant to help fund this beautiful idea.
The goal of this two-part community project was to create an opportunity to showcase the talent within the Trenton/Mercer County and provide an innovative creative outlet for the youth through a sneaker inspired art workshop. Our mission was to create a memorable experience that connects art & community, accentuating the beauty of collaboration; representing a perfect fusion of creativity and community outreach.
This idea would later grow to become known as FlyKickz presents THE ART COLLECTIVE. The Art Collective is about uniting a diverse group of artists within the community to collaborate together, creating a space where they can express their individual style, talents and camaraderie. On May 17th and 18th through the community collabortive art exhibition and youth art workshop we successfully accomplished that!
*Video shot & edited by Lions's Den Productions
This incredible pop-up exhibition featured art from over 20+ artists, highlighting talent of all ages and skill levels within the Trenton/Mercer County community including students from Daylight Twilight, Sprout U, TCHS and more. In addition, FlyKickz featured art from residents, aspiring and well-known
artists as well as 4 live musical performances from Trenton artists.
What made this project even more special was all the services provided for both FlyKickz projects such as DJ, videographers, photographer, event coordinater, art curator, performance/music curator and volunteers were all natives of the Trenton area. Every aspect was done with purpose and intent.
We packed that gallery on May 17th and on May 18th the largest FlyKickz sneaker inspired art workshop for 30 youth from Dawn of Hope Inc. and The KP Initiative took place; we made an impact!
*Video shot & edited by Shuttergod Production
With the right funding and resources FlyKickz aspires to continue elevating and inspiring, while uplifting the community and giving back to our youth! If you would like to Support FlyKickz with a DONATION to help fund community related projects, youth art workshop and more, Contributions can be made via CashApp/Venmo ($FKArtDLR) Zelle, and gifting via PayPal [email protected]; Please include your IG/Name/Email when making a contribution, we would love to personally Thank You! If you would like to make a donation by check please contact us at [email protected]
FlyKickz would like to thank:
- I Am Trenton Community Foundation and Isles Inc, for helping to fund this project.
- Wegmans Princeton and Walmart Hamilton for food donations
- All the visual artists that exhibited
- Our volunteers who helped make sure everyone felt welcomed
- Everyone who made a monetary/supply donation
- Our amazingly talented DJ, Videographers and Photographers
- Everyone who attended the event/art workshop
- And more importantly, Dez would like to thank her beautiful parents.
It truly takes a village! Thank you to everyone that continues to support FlyKickz!
2023 Youth Sneaker Customizing Workshop
It took 131 days but on July 2023 FlyKickz successfully raised $6,000 to curate the 1st interactive Youth Sneaker Customizing Workshop (YSCW) experience for youth within the Trenton Community. This immersive event was supported by Isles, their contribution helped to purchase the Nike Air Force 1 sneakers and art supplies for each participant and the I am Trenton partial grant awarded to FlyKickz to help jump start this endeavor.
To make this event even more successful FlyKickz partnered with Mercer County Community College Fashion Program/Fashion club to host this event at MCCC Trenton Hall located in Downtown Trenton, received food sponsorship from Wegmans Princeton and Walmart Hamilton. In addition, hundreds of items were gifted to the participants provided by various small businesses/organizations utilizing FlyKickz’s social media.
The YSCW not only provided an opportunity for the youth to learn the fundamentals of sneaker customization but it created a fun and safe environment for each participant to connect & engage creatively, emotionally and mentally while customizing their very own pair of sneakers.
Since completing the YSCW on August 5th FlyKickz has received great feedback from participants and parents who have stated, “The workshop was very much enjoyable, I hope to see more of these in the future! Thanks Dez it was definitely something I can boost about to my fellow peers!”
“Make this happen again pleasee! I enjoyed it and I hope this can happen again. It was very much enjoyed because I got to do something I’ve never done before.”
“He learned so much and is very thankful for this one in a lifetime experience. You’ve done an amazing job in your event! We hope future events will be more around for more experiences and more opportunities in presenting our youth.”
“Your workshop definitely did what I was hoping it would do and that was build his self esteem and I shall forever be grateful.”
Crossing that finish line was a long journey that required, thousands of hours of work and months of preparation but FlyKickz goal is to create yearly anticipated events for the youth and the community. With the right funding and support the 2023 Youth Sneaker Customizing Workshop will be the beginning and stepping stone for greater things to come!
