Culture Restoration Project describes culturally focused programs serving Wilmington youth; seeks advocacy and funding

Alicia Watson, executive director of Culture Restoration Project Inc., presented the nonprofit’s program portfolio to the Wilmington City Council Education, Youth and Families Committee on March 12, 2025, highlighting culturally based arts and leadership programs designed to build a sense of identity and civic responsibility among students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Watson said Culture Restoration Project served more than 600 students in 2024 and that, “about 95 of those students were in the city of Wilmington,” language that was recorded in the transcript; the phrasing in the presentation was ambiguous about whether that meant 95 students or 95%. Watson said the organization’s annual goal had been 300 students and that reaching 600 represents sustained growth since 2021.

Key programs Watson described include: - Beyond Those Bars (BTB): a project‑based program for grades 3–12 that pairs cultural education with songwriting, recording in a mobile studio, professional mixing and a music video. BTB has derivatives that focus on…