Art teachers advance the students collage work by first introducing them and educating them on the work and life of Romare Bearden. Through the efforts of the engagement, children to see Bearden’s work and are introduced to activities and exercises to learn, recognize and understand Bearden’s work and appreciate Bearden’s impact on Baltimore city. The goal is for children to learn to use and appreciate the power of collage as an art form and a therapeutic activity.

Since 2016, children in 1st through 8th grade at the Henderson Hopkins School, a predominately African American Baltimore City public school, are the primary beneficiaries of the funding and oversight by Johns Hopkins University. The project is one of twelve after school projects that the students of Henderson school can participate in 4 days a week and continues to gain momentum and serves approximately 30 children annually, from September to June. Now, in its third year, members of the Baltimore Chapter of the Pierians, Incorporated, participate in school PTA meetings helping to introduce parents to art, further promote it in their children’s lives and promote the continuation for them to reap benefits for the school, students, and student families.

Last year, Ms. Deidre Harris of New York’s Bearden Foundation, conducted a workshop with parents on the “power of collage”. Camay Murphy, creator of the project and chair of the committee, believes that this project is having lasting results on the children and their families. Camay stated, “One little girl did a collage that featured an animal huddled in the background of lots of other people and objects says Ms. Murphy. When asked to explain her collage the young girl said that she herself often feels like that animal—afraid to come out in all of the noise and danger of her neighborhood. I took that opportunity as an opening to connect with her telling her that even the most frightened animal must come out—when it's safe to eat and play with others”.