POTTSTOWN PA – Original art created by youths in programs held by the Pottstown-based YWCA Tri-County Area are on display through September at the Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center, 95 S. Hanover St.
Titled “Emotions Unboxed,” the exhibit uses recycle cardboard as a medium to make masks that depict a variety of emotions. It consists of works created by seven youths who participated in the YWCA Club Connect’s summer camp during July.
The show opened Saturday (Sept. 6, 2025); the center is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The project gave the artists “a unique opportunity to explore emotions, and healthy decision making,” the YWCA reports. Both are key concepts of drug and alcohol prevention education. Those involved “wanted to encourage other youth(s) to learn more about resiliency and emotions,” it adds.
The goal is to encourage those visiting the Children’s Discovery Center to “learn, connect, and reflect on the power of emotions,” according to the YWCA.
Making the masks is a service learning project within the drug and alcohol prevention curriculum. It is intended to help youth stay in touch with, and manage, their emotions. Kristie Piacine, YWCA’s vice president of program advancement, says it also provides an outlet for youth to contribute to their communities in positive ways.
Making A Difference Among Peers
“We were committed to giving youth the opportunity to understand that they can make a difference,” Piacine adds. “Collaborating with the Discovery Center allows youth to share what they learned with us on a larger scale. They feel pride in being peer educators in their own community.”
For its part, the Children’s Discovery Center was “thrilled to collaborate with the YWCA’s prevention program students on this meaningful art initiative,” its Executive Director Beth Desch notes. “It’s a powerful way to help young people express their emotions and make positive choices.”
Desch believes projects like this give children and families tools for emotional expression, as well as a safe space to connect, reflect, and grow together.“I know our families will be inspired by the creativity. They may even feel encouraged to explore their own emotional journeys.”
YW Club Connect, the YWCA explains, is supported by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Montgomery County. The six-week educational program offers age-appropriate skill-building focused on drug and alcohol prevention. Youths gain opportunities to learn social skills, decision-making skills, and resilience needed to postpone and prevent drug and alcohol first-use, abuse, and misuse.
YWCA Tri-County Area is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The non-profit agency is headquartered at 315 King St.
Photos provided to Travels With The Post by YWCA Tri-County Area
Our entertainment reporting covers the arts and culture, shows, exhibits, performances, festivals, and history-related activities within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. Find more entertainment articles here. Also, see and join the Pottstown Arts and Cultural Alliance group on Facebook.
