Deep in the art of B’klyn
MIDDLE SCHOOL teacher Ruby Singh gives voice to students from an underserved Brooklyn community with art classes based on mass incarceration, poverty and other issues that affect the kids’ lives.
For the past five years, Singh, 28, has dedicated herself to bringing this exceptional art instruction to Achievement First Brownsville Middle School students in a neighborhood that is noted for its lack of resources for young people. But in addition to teaching kids artistic expression, Singh shows them how to improve their community through the arts, education and advocacy.
And through art, her students develop the passion to become their community’s next leaders and change Brownsville’s negative image.
For defying stereotypes and promoting positivity through creativity, Singh is nominated for a Hometown Heroes in Education Award.
The educator says she always knew she wanted to incorporate the arts, community and culture into her teaching.
“I start my curriculum with mass incarceration,” said Singh, who lives in Bushwick. “It’s a really heavy topic, but it affects so many of my students, so it’s necessary.”
As a graduate student at NYU, Singh began to focus on inner-city schools. Many of Singh’s students are immigrants and Singh relates to them through her Indian immigrant background.
“I share my story with them first during the immigration and identity lessons, so I’m vulnerable with them. I’m very open about where I come from,” said Singh.
“You don’t understand what is happening to children outside of the school space and that’s why they are the way they are,” she said. “They just need a teacher’s support.”