Felecia Outsey's Divine Urban eXpressions Cultural Arts N Dance Productions has been a boots-on-the-ground organization in the East Knoxville community for more than a decade, giving teens an outlet for artistic expression, whether it's dance, music or poetry.
She can't solve inadequate housing or nutrition. She can't undo the impact of the trauma caused by losing five Black teens to gun violence this year.
But she can give love and support, while creating opportunities for kids to perform and express themselves.
"For me, being in the African American community where you can't afford to go to a dance class, most of our people are born dancing," she said. "So, for me, having a group ... is (helping) them expand upon what they already knew they could do."