Coyote is an inclusive arts education organization geared toward 10- to 15-year-olds. According to the non-profit organization’s mission statement, “Coyote sparks creativity in young people, putting tools in their hands to build skills and forge their futures.”
It offers traditional art classes with paper and paintbrushes and some classes with tools that are considered more extreme, such as cooking, glasswork and welding. At Coyote, the students are celebrated for who they are. It doesn’t matter if they are not typical learners or are having a bad day, the staff at Coyote will meet them where they are and help them achieve the skills they need to create.
Since it began in 1986, Coyote has grown from a small group of teachers engaging students in academics to a large two-campus organization dedicated to the arts and serving more than 1,000 students each year. Many people are familiar with the Coyote Central location at 2300 E. Cherry Street, across from Garfield High School. And just weeks before the pandemic shutdown, the organization opened the doors of Coyote North, at 12325 Lake City Way N.E.
During the pandemic, Coyote experienced a few bumps in the road as it transitioned to online learning but kept their staff and teaching artists employed and made sure that the students had access to classes and opportunities. Classes during the pandemic were limited to the tools and equipment students had or could have delivered to their houses; staff and volunteers made and delivered supply kits for the students. Some included regular art supplies, but the cooking classes required someone to shop for weekly grocery deliveries.
Having in-person classes return means that Coyote is once again offering welding, sewing and fiber arts, wood sculpture and furniture, screen printing and theater.
All classes are pay-what-you-can, and registration for the winter courses opened Jan. 2 at coyotecentral.org.
Coyote is committed to social justice, accessibility and inclusion. As stated on its website, they “start with a racial equity lens but also address inequity with income, gender identity, culture, language, ability, and any other oppression that our community might experience.” This commitment extends to staff, where they are working to build a teaching artist roster, staff and board that reflect the diversity and intersectionality of the students they serve.
Earlier in December, Coyote announced new leadership for the first time in 20 years. Co-founder and program director Marybeth Satterlee stepped down, and long-time executive director Claudia Stelle also retired. After an extensive search, Coyote identified Gabriel-Bello Laurence-Diaz to take the lead.
Editor’s note: Laura Marie Rivera is the treasurer for the Coyote Central Board of Directors, as well as a contributing writer for the Madison Park Times.