Art educators and administrators allowed a project to evolve based on the "street life" experiences of ordinarily invisible people. The goal was to create a space or number of spaces for celebrating the human spirit through art, music, dance, poetry, theater, and story while also providing a forum for exploring some of the social issues affecting the communities and society at large. By thoughtfully exposing young people to the work and techniques created and used by socially engaged artists, the author believes art educators can meaningfully engage students in important issues that are central to their communities and to their own lives. (Contains 4 endnotes.)