Student nonprofit leader builds inclusive arts network

Edina Young, an undergraduate at Salisbury University, is using art, volunteer leadership and special education training to build We Are Artistic, a youth-led nonprofit focused on inclusion and creative expression. Her work highlights how mentorship, trauma-informed practices and structured systems can expand opportunities for young people.

Why it matters: - Edina Young is combining education, nonprofit leadership and advocacy around one goal: creating inclusive spaces where young people feel supported and valued. - Her work with We Are Artistic shows how youth-led organizations can grow beyond social media into structured community networks with real reach. - Her path matters for students, volunteers and families looking for models of leadership that pair creativity with accountability.

What happened: - Edina Young, also known as Edie Young, is an undergraduate at Salisbury University studying Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. - Young founded and leads We Are Artistic as its Founder and Executive Director. - We Are Artistic began as an Instagram account connecting young creatives and later expanded into an international volunteer network. - Young’s organization was featured by WUSA9 after We Are Artistic lost access to its primary Instagram account during her sophomore year. - Young’s profile was published by Influential Women.

The details: - Young wants to become a special education teacher focused on trauma-informed and culturally responsive classrooms. - We Are Artistic grew by bringing on volunteers, building leadership systems and using Google Classroom to coordinate activity. - Young says leading volunteers taught her that sustainable leadership depends on communication, delegation, accountability and clear expectations. - Young says some early volunteers later became strong directors and contributors, reinforcing her belief in shared responsibility. - Young has completed training in autistic employee support, Autism Friendly Ally education, trauma-informed care for educators, nonprofits and caregivers, trauma-competent care, safe sleep, babysitting, cat and dog first aid, anaphylaxis and epinephrine administration, water safety, and Narcan training. - Her broader experience includes involvement with the Hack Foundation, Special Olympics advocacy and awareness work, the Greenbelt Museum, Cardz For Kidz at Salisbury University, TRIO at Salisbury University and Best Buddies. - Young credits mentors, teachers, family members and directors for helping shape her development, including Miss Maria, Katherine Dorsey, Denise Hodge, Alyssa Pendon, Kai, Erin, Fadilah and Morgan Moots. - Young also credits her mother’s nonprofit and museum work for giving her practical exposure to leadership and community engagement. - The Hack Foundation has helped provide structure and resources as We Are Artistic developed. - Young’s babysitting work started with her first client, Lana, a neighbor who trusted her before she had references, and later grew across the DMV area. - Young recommends Red Cross babysitting basics and CPR courses for aspiring babysitters, along with platforms such as Bambino, UrbanSitter and neighborhood Facebook groups. - For aspiring nonprofit founders, Young recommends checking whether a national nonprofit already exists, considering a local chapter, and exploring fiscal sponsorship, banking help and operational support through groups such as the Hack Foundation. - Young also points to Idealist, local volunteer networks and Taproot as recruitment and support resources.

Between the lines: - Young’s approach is built on the idea that leadership is less about control and more about creating systems that help other people succeed. - Her emphasis on assuming good intentions suggests a management style aimed at reducing conflict and making room for different communication styles. - The article frames inclusion as both an academic interest and a practical operating principle inside We Are Artistic. - Her advice to young founders reflects a wider lesson: starting from scratch is not always the best route when existing infrastructure already exists.

What's next: - Young plans to continue building toward a career as a special education teacher. - She is expected to keep expanding her leadership, advocacy and nonprofit experience through We Are Artistic and related community work. - Her focus will likely remain on inclusive environments, youth opportunity and systems that help volunteers and students follow through.

The bottom line: - Edina Young is turning classroom training, nonprofit experience and creative advocacy into a leadership model centered on inclusion, structure and service.