Inspiring Action Through Art: A Look Inside Our Pilot with Grant High School

By: Taylor Neitzke, Program & Communications Director at SOLVE

This spring, I had the chance to be part of something especially meaningful—our first-ever Art for Action pilot at Grant High School. As a former arts educator, it brought me back to the joy of supporting students through the creative process and reminded me just how powerful art can be in inspiring change.

Over four sessions in Grant’s screen printing class, students explored the intersection of design and community action. They learned about SOLVE’s mission, participated in a neighborhood litter cleanup, and used what they experienced to create posters encouraging their peers to get involved.

The project kicked off with an intro to SOLVE and the many ways to take action. Then we headed outside for a cleanup that started on school grounds and stretched into the Hollywood District. For many, it was their first experience volunteering for the environment.

One student summed it up best: “It was fun cleaning up with friends.”

Students getting introduced to SOLVE's work before heading out to clean up the neighborhood.

For many students, it was their first experience volunteering for the environment.

Back in the classroom, students applied what they learned. Using Photoshop and SOLVE’s brand guidelines, they created posters with real-world purpose. I stopped by for a midpoint critique, and the level of creativity, thoughtfulness, and originality I saw was incredible.

“It was fun to make something for a purpose,” one student said. Another described it as “a fun, engaging project that felt more than just an assignment.”

 By the end of the project, students had created over 50 unique poster designs —each one reflecting their individual voice and creativity. In our final session, we held a celebration where everyone had the chance to share their work and vote on standout designs in categories like Most On Brand, Best Use of Color, and Most Unique Design.

Some students developed original taglines, while others hand-drew their artwork before importing it into Photoshop. No two designs were alike, and seeing it all come together was one of the most rewarding moments of the entire experience.

To top it off, several students were interviewed by KOIN6 News for a segment on their Positively Portland series.

KOIN6 documented the Action to Art pilot at their Positively Portland series

Many students came in knowing little about SOLVE. By the end, they were curious about joining future cleanups, promoting environmental causes on social media, or using their creative skills to make a difference. Several shared that the project made them feel more empowered to take action in their communities.

For me, it was a full-circle moment. Being back in the classroom—seeing students light up with ideas and purpose—was energizing and deeply rewarding. I'm especially grateful to Lynn Yarne for welcoming me into their in their classroom and to Rose O'Reilly-Hoisington for collaborating on this experience with me.

We're currently fundraising to bring Art for Action to more schools in 2026. If you are a teacher interested in bringing the program to your classroom, we'd love to connect. While this pilot focused on poster design, future versions could explore any creative medium. The model is simple: learn about SOLVE, participate in a cleanup, and create something that inspires others to care for the environment. 

Learn more at solveoregon.org/youth and check out the final poster designs from this talented group of Grant High School students.