‘You Are Beautiful’ project comes to IPS school

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Improving girls’ self esteem through art.

That was the basis behind a recent project operated through the US Attorney’s office.

23 girls from Daniel Webster Elementary School #43 took part in the program. They are all in the 6th and 7th grades.

The task was to draw portraits of themselves.

“It leads girls to believe that they are beautiful and you can do whatever you want,” said Michaela Ewing, who took part in the project.

Their portraits now hang above the main entrance of their school.

“You are beautiful is a message we all need to hear. It isn’t spoken enough,” said Holly Combs, the co-founder of The Department of Public Words.

Combs and her husband helped spearhead the project at the school.

If the “You Are Beautiful’ message sounds familiar it’s because it’s the same message that sits high above Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square.

“Over the past ten years we’ve been working with the “You are Beautiful Project” which is worldwide to bring the message to people’s hearts for them to know it because we just don’t hear it enough,” said Combs.

US Attorney Josh Minkler says he has high hopes for these girls.

“They are going to be the future artists, the future doctors, lawyers, the future law enforcement officers,” said Minkler.

Mayor Joe Hogsett said the investment will live on long beyond this two month project.

“When we reach out to our young people and we give them hope and give them something to work toward we are indeed investing in the future of our city,” said Indianapolis Mayor Hogsett, .

“It was fun and I hope to do it again sometime,” said Quintonna Benning, who is also 12 years old.

The US Attorney’s office said the reason why they chose this age group is because this is when young girls begin to struggle with self-worth, self-esteem and confidence.

They said those struggles could lead to lower grades, poverty and criminal behavior later in life.