Arts Paper
As the editorially independent arm of The Arts Council of Greater New Haven, the Arts Paper seeks to celebrate, explore, and investigate the fine, visual, performing and culinary arts in and around New Haven.
Danielle Sekas, teen librarian at the Hamden Public Library, at her desk. Samir Iydroose Photos.
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Top: Zahara Gazzola and Karina Gonzalez. Bottom: Naiyanna White. Lucy Gellman Photos. Welcome to the Youth Arts Journalism Initiative Class of 2026! We are so excited to have 10 of America’s future journalists learning with us this summer. This summer also marks the largest expansion of YAJI staff, with four YAJI mentors over the two months that we are together. This year's YAJI staff include first-time mentors Ruby Szekeres (YAJI class of 2024), and Grayce Howe, (the Arts Paper's 2024 New Haven Academy intern), as well as returning mentors Jayla Anderson (YAJI class of 2020) and Abiba Biao (YAJI class of 2022). During our intensive week, we were also thrilled to spend time with Shamain McAllister, director of Cultural Affairs for the City of New Haven, New Haven Independent Founder Paul Bass and Education Reporter Maya McFadden, and Former YAJI Program Director Markeshia Ricks, who worked as a reporter for over two decades. The mission of the YAJI is to introduce high schoolers to grassroots journalism through The Arts Paper, the daily publication of the Arts Council of Greater New Haven. Students independently research, report, draft, and publish articles covering arts, culture, and community in New Haven and the greater New Haven region. The two month program consists of a week-long intensive followed by seven weeks of pitch meetings, group writing/reporting time at the New Haven Free Public Library and 1:1 professional mentorship. For a first writing exercise during our weeklong intensive, all 10 students split into groups to learn to write short bios of each other. Read on to meet these young people, and please greet them with open arms if you run into them on assignment! Naiyanna White (she/her), 19, is a high school student at New Haven’s Adult & Continuing Education Center. An avid reader, Naiyanna is currently working her way through William Strunk and E.B. White, Jr.’s The Elements of Style and Rohanna Ssanyu’s The Marabou Who Crossed The Sea. Beyond that, she reads a lot of literary fiction, recently having finished Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Her hobbies include watching older movies, her favorite being Bringing Up Baby, and listening to music. Currently, an album she has on repeat is U from Underscores, a hyperpop singer who Naiyanna recently discovered through Coachella. A New Haven resident for three years, Naiyanna said that her motivation for participating in YAJI was to break through a recent bout of writer’s block and become more involved within New Haven. Alongside exploring journalism as a career path, Naiyanna has been engaged in summer activities to discover other vocational pursuits, such as volunteering at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas and taking a website development course. After graduating from New Haven Adult Education Center, she hopes to gain an associate degree in general studies at Gateway Community College, with the eventual goal of earning an English degree. Written by Samir Iydroose Amber Boutellier Photo. Karina Iris Gonzalez (she/her) is a 15-year-old sophomore at Acellus Academy, a virtual homeschooling program that she began attending after several years at Engineering and Science University Magnet School (ESUMS). The oldest of five siblings, Karina is also a fraternal twin, and prides herself on being the eldest. She is fluent in both English and Spanish, and is learning Russian and German, which she said is fun, but very difficult. Along with language learning, she enjoys playing the electric guitar, sewing, writing, and playing tennis, which she has done since first grade. Karina discovered YAJI through one of her counselors, who recommended the program after hearing about her love of writing. After finishing her sophomore year at Acellus Academy, she plans to return to in-person learning and complete her secondary studies at Madison High School, with the ultimate goal of becoming a child psychologist. Written by Zahara Gazzola Jay doing an interview at IRIS' celebration of America 250 last week. Karina Gonzalez and Amber Boutellier Photo. Jayniel “Jay” Bermudez (he/him), is a 14-year-old sophomore at Eli Whitney Technical High School in Hamden. He is also a counselor in training at New HYTES, a non-profit that focuses on youth enrichment through tennis instruction and academic mentorship. His interests include writing, fitness, cooking, video games, and playing tennis, which has done since he was 7 years old. Jay has had many notable life experiences, including watching the coin flip in the U.S. Open 2024, as well as presenting at the Yale School of Business as part of New HYTES’ entrepreneurial studies program where students develop, design, and pitch business ideas to address real-world problems. His future aspirations include graduating high school and becoming an engineer and a full-time counselor. With help from YAJI, he hopes to write a book in the near future. Written by Kiara Guevara-Cragwell Zazie Gazzola as YAJI learns to use cameras. Abiba Biao Photos. Zahara “Zazie” Gazzola (she/they), is a 15-year-old sophomore at Wilbur Cross High School and ACES Educational Center for the Arts (ECA). Born in New York and raised in Hamden, Zazie comes from a diverse background, proudly embracing her Indian and Italian heritage. Because she is both an avid reader and talented singer, music plays an important part in Zazie’s life. Her favorite artist is David Bowie. Along with English, Zazie also speaks Italian, allowing her to stay connected to her cultural roots. Outside of school, she enjoys kickboxing and weightlifting. She has a soft spot for animals, and enjoys spending time learning to care for them. With eight chickens and three cats (Nyx, Cleo and Pompom), there’s never a dull moment in the Gazzola household. Zazie comes from a family of academics, with both parents working as professors at Yale University. Although she hopes to leave Connecticut one day to explore new places, Zazie envisions returning to settle down. Written by Karina Iris Gonzalez Grayce Howe and Kiara Guevara-Cragwell. Abiba Biao Photos. Grayce Howe (she/her) a rising sophomore at Wheaton College Massachusetts, where she is doubling majoring in International Relations and Film & New Media Studies with a minor in Journalism. Grayce first joined the Arts Paper in 2024 as a New Haven Academy intern; she graduated from the school in 2025. Since then, she has stayed on as a freelance writer and assumed her newest position of becoming YAJI mentor. A budding journalist, her writing has made waves in Elm City and beyond. She currently serves as secretary at her school’s newspaper, The Wheaton Wire. • Written by Abiba Biao Kiara Guevara-Cragwell (she/her) is an aspiring 17-year-old journalist. A Branford resident, Kiara is the youngest of three siblings and recent graduate of Branford High School. Now, she has her eyes set on the University of Connecticut, where she will matriculate in the fall to major in journalism. Kiara said that one of her goals while attending YAJI was to sharpen her skills in preparation for university. When she isn’t chasing her dreams, Kiara enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, working at Longley’s, a Branford-based casual restaurant, reading books, and writing short stories. She also likes to listen to indie and pop music, but admitted to having some controversial music picks. “I’m not the biggest fan of country music, but if it is playing in the background for a while, it’ll get stuck in my head,” she said. Written by Jayniel “Jay” Bermudez Amber Boutellier and Olivia Dirschel. Lucy Gellman Photos. Amber Bouteiller (she/her) is a 16 -year-old rising junior at West Haven High School, where she has been a member on the school’s dance team for three years. Amber pastimes include reading romance novels and listening to pop music. Her favorite artist is Billie Eilish and she claims to love all of her songs. Despite her various talents, Amber said that she is unsure of a career pathway she wants to pursue in the future. She added that her motivation for joining YAJI was to improve her writing skills. Written by Olivia Dirschel Elodie Lafortune (she/her), 18, is a freshly-minted graduate from Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School (Co-Op) where she studied creative writing. In the fall, Elodie will begin her post-secondary studies at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, with a major in English and history. A prolific reader and writer, she aims to become a book editor in a big publishing house and a New York Times best selling author. She grew up in Haiti with her two younger siblings, and immigrated by age three to Naugatuck, where she has remained. Written by Daniel “Cupido” Garcia Daniel "Cupido" Garcia and Samir Iydroose. Abiba Biao Photos. Samir Iydroose (he/him) is a 16-year-old rising junior at Hamden High School. In addition to participating in YAJI, Samir is involved in other writing endeavors. Most notably, he serves as the editor-in-chief at his school newspaper The Dial. He is also a two-time winner of the Hamden Thornton Wilder Writing Competition, earning third place in 2025 for his short story, The Unseen Mask.
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Allyse Corbin and Nate Britton Photos, courtesy of Yale Summer Cabaret.
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