North Avondale Library Hosts Workshops in Partnership with Hands on Youth Activities, Inc.

Juliette Watts and students 

Smiles filled the room at the North Avondale Branch Library as participants showed off the wreaths they made during a workshop taught by Birmingham’s Juliette Watts.

When the class had begun an hour earlier, not everyone was on the same page, including two sisters who struggled to work together in building their wreath. But Watts encouraged the girls, and soon they too created a beautiful wreath to take home and proudly show their mother.

“I get so much joy out of using my love of the arts to develop discipline and teach these kids to work together,” said Watts, who founded Hands On Youth Activities Inc. in 1999.

During June and July, Watts hosted three free workshops at the North Avondale Library, teaching kids to make wreaths and decorative flip-flops. Kids and adults also learned to sew squares for a community quilt project.

Two sisters worked in harmony to make their wreath

Watts is among community organizations, nonprofits, schools, and businesses across the Birmingham metro area that partner with the Birmingham Public Library (BPL)’s 19 branches located across the city. North Avondale Library Branch Manager Saundra Ross said Watts has been a tremendous asset to her library, giving participants of all ages in the community something positive to do.

Watts said she has spent the past 17 years devoting countless hours sharing her artistic talents with young people and adults across Birmingham, partnering with BPL, schools, and community groups. Among her past projects: Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Making Workshop, Parents Crochet With Your Children Workshop, Cherokee Leaf Pounding Workshop, Let’s Plant Something, Fishing Expedition, Kids Cake Baking, and others.

“I want to do my part to make a difference in the lives of young people,” said Watts, who also shares her talents with adults.

For more information on Hands On Youth Activities Program, contact Watts by phone at 205-244-1465, e-mail at handsonyouth@hotmail.com, or via mail at P.O. Box 611072, Birmingham, AL, 35261.