Empowering youth.

Group of diverse young women smiling outdoors on a paved area near a grassy field, with stage equipment and tents in the background.

Building community.

Children performing a Kwanzaa celebration on stage while an audience watches.

Transforming through the arts.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT ➺

EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE

THROUGH CREATIVE EXPRESSION

CommUNITY ARTS-reach is dedicated to building a stronger, more inclusive community in Roanoke, VA. Through arts education, mentorship, and cultural programming, we provide a safe and supportive space where youth can grow, connect, and use art as a tool for personal and social transformation.

Our mission

At CommUNITY ARTS-reach, we believe in the power of the arts to uplift, heal, and unite. We envision a future where every young person has access to creative opportunities, free from violence and oppression. Through partnerships, education, and hands-on arts engagement, we empower youth to be leaders and changemakers in their communities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US ➺

Initiatives & Programs

We offer inclusive programs and activities, encouraging the youth to participate in musical theatre, workshops, and community service, learn about opportunities in Roanoke and collaborate with other artists and service groups. As a part of our outreach initiative, we welcome fellow artists to share their experiences and inspirations with our youth and other student groups.

Empowering

Youth

in Creative Arts

Enriching

Cultural

Diversity

We strive to empower people to navigate emotions through creative tools—appreciating cultural diversity and inclusion—while helping African American individuals learn skills to make a long-lasting impact to ensure community success.

Build a better community by sharing arts with all citizens of Roanoke, Virginia, and the region.

Building

Strong Relationships

for a Better

Future

CommUNITY ARTS-reach works to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential.

01

Musical Theatre & Performance

Group of people, including children and adults, in vibrant cultural attire, gathered in a church with a cross on the wall, decorated for a celebration or service.

Encouraging youth to express themselves through storytelling and stage productions.

02

Community Art Projects

A woman with pink hair and patterned pants dancing outdoors in a grassy area decorated with colorful cutouts of abstract shapes and animal figures. Another person is taking a photo or video of her, surrounded by greenery and structures in the background.

Collaborative creative initiatives that bring neighborhoods together.

03

Workshops & Mentorship

Two women standing together, smiling, in front of colorful artwork on a yellow wall. One woman is dressed in a black top and patterned wide-leg pants, and the other is wearing a vibrant dashiki-style shirt and black leggings. A person in a red striped shirt is visible in the background in a doorway.

Hands-on learning from local artists, educators, and community leaders.

04

Youth Empowerment & Advocacy

A group of children and teenagers posing together in a banquet hall with other attendees seated at tables in the background.

CommUNITY ARTS-reach focuses on youth empowerment, ensuring young people are valued and provided with opportunities to develop their potential through arts and community involvement.

Youth practice expressions of what it feels like to be a young person today. Youth question and share what current topics mean to them. Performances provide a pathway for self inquiry and a community acknowledgement of our common social needs.

Upcoming events

Event poster for Black Nativity featuring works of Langston Hughes, scheduled for Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 5:30pm at the Community ARTSreach Event Center, 3025 Frontier Rd NW Roanoke VA 24012. The poster includes an image of people performing or preparing for a Nativity scene.
VIEW EVENTS ➺

Our VALUES

Safety

CommUNITY ARTS-reach believes all young people deserve a secure, stable, and healthy environment.

EMPOWERMENT

We promote a culture that encourages arts educators and youth to develop their own strengths and champions their growth and successes. We engage youth in positive community works, recognizing them as an untapped reservoir of needed participants and volunteers.

Leadership

We lead and advocate for changes that benefit young people by leveraging the collective power and influence of our youth, educators, and partners.

Respect

Our work is centered in compassion and dignity for others, with the belief that all young people should be valued.

Dependability

We are unwavering in our commitment to young people and can be trusted to provide consistent, high-quality, and sustainable care and education.

collaboration

We achieve more for young people by collaborating with and learning from partners, inspiring the community to take action.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

We are committed to dismantling systemic barriers that have historically harmed Black African American communities. Through creativity, healing, and empowerment, we use the arts to amplify voices, address injustice, and foster environments where young people feel seen, safe, and supported in their full humanity.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We embrace diversity, assure fair treatment, and provide equitable access to opportunities.

Celebrating

Creativity

Take a look at the incredible work created by our youth and community members! From vibrant murals to inspiring performances, our gallery showcases the power of artistic expression.

View Gallery ➺
Group of seven people, five women and two men, gathered in a room with musical instruments, some smiling at the camera, wearing colorful African-inspired clothing. One man is playing a drum, and there is a keyboard and drums behind them.
A cultural performance on stage with six women singing and a young person playing percussion, with a large screen displaying 'Now Performing Community Arts Reach' and a colorful map of Africa.
Market stall selling African jewelry, headwraps, and decorative arts; mannequin heads with colorful headwraps and jewelry displayed on a black table.

UPLIFTING YOUTH, HONORING CULTURE, BUILDING COMMUNITY

✦

UPLIFTING YOUTH, HONORING CULTURE, BUILDING COMMUNITY ✦

READY TO CREATE, CONNECT, AND INSPIRE?

Join us in uplifting youth, honoring culture, and building community through the arts.

GET INVOLVED ➺
LET'S TALK ➺
The door features a red sign with black and purple handwritten text that reads 'Community Arts Reach', with a star and an arched line. Smaller posters below advertise a rental hall, a nativity story, and a notice to hold the door open.