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What does LPTM provide?

LPTM provides apprentices with daily homework assistance, a light meal, arts, athletics, leadership development and meditation.

What makes LPTMs art technique special?

All LPTM paintings are born from the life experiences of LPTM apprentices. The colorful, sewn, acrylic on canvas collages are created collectively and each illustrates a shared story.

What type of organization is LPTM?

LPTM is a non-profit, arts-based youth development and education organization which operates after school and on weekends.

When was Life Pieces To Masterpieces founded?

Founded in 1996, Life Pieces To Masterpieces is a community-based nonprofit located in Washington D.C.

Where did the name "Life Pieces to Masterpieces" come from?

Life Pieces To Masterpieces takes its name from the unique style of art that the apprentices collectively create: painting fabric, cutting it into various shapes, and sewing the pieces together into visually powerful canvases that tell their inspiring stories.

Who are the apprentices?

Our apprentices are young, African American men, ages 3 to 21 who desire to be gentleman, scholars and athletes. Each day they chose to turn their pain into purpose by participating in Life Pieces To Masterpieces. Our apprentices live in a city where African American young men are statically more likely to go to jail than to college. Through our program they make healthy choices at home, in their neighborhood and at school, enabling them to succeed and thrive against the various odds that have been stacked against them at birth. In fact, 95% of our apprentices are never involved in the juvenile justice system. Through our arts-based curriculum, apprentices learn how to express and process their emotions in a positive, non-violent way. As a result, our apprentices consistently improve their school attendance and performance; improve their social and life skills; and avoid involvement with gangs, the juvenile system, and teen pregnancy.

Who Does Life Pieces To Masterpieces Serve?

To date, Life Pieces has served over 600 young men, touched thousands of lives and created more than 1,000 pieces of art in the process. Currently, we serve more than 200 African American young men – whom we call apprentices - after school and on the weekends and over the summer by creating a safe haven that offers a culture of hope and possibility while fostering an environment of accountability.