LANSING - Art is a way that allows individuals to express themselves. From pottery, to drawing pictures, to even painting meaningful murals. A non-profit neighborhood art center is putting their stamp on the community.

REACH Studio Art Center is a space for troubled kids, teenagers, and adults to go to free their creative minds and allow their personalities to roam free.

"It's like home…and a place here you can come sort through your problems using art…it's just a way to clean your spirit and do something fun," mentioned Joy Baldwin, Program Director of Reach Studio Art Center.

REACH has been in business for 11 years serving around 100-150 people every week through the programs they have to offer.

"Our class size is about 16 per class and we have 18 different class offerings," Baldwin stated.

One of the classes available called the "Teen Studio," focuses on community art projects throughout the year.

"Three terms a year they take 10 weeks to make a big work of community art for a different non-profit," mentioned Baldwin.

Most recently, the studio was approached by the Eaton Conservation District and the City of Lansing and came up with the idea for teenagers to paint on storm drains to help bring attention to the environment.

"The teens decided how many drains to take on, did all of the designs, presented the designs to us and got them approved and then we went out week by week, little by little and we painted them," Baldwin stated.

23 teenagers were separated into four groups and a total of four storm drains were selected to feature these art pieces.

"This was just a fun way to address it than printing out flyers and handing them to people."

Each teen that contributed to the creation of these murals gathered together on Thursday evening to unveil each masterpiece at all four locations.

"We wanted to raise awareness so that people didn't dump in the water or litter," mentioned Jasper Balwin, an art student at REACH.

"People can realize a little bit more like 'hey don't pollute our waters' and that we put it there as a reminder," REACH art student Alissa Ledesma stated.

REACH has made such a positive impact on the Lansing community that even State Farm Insurance was impressed leading them to grant the art studio with $30,000 to assist in funding for the organization next year.

Not only that, but the art studio continues to impact the lives of troubled kids and adults on a daily basis.

"The first time I came to REACH I fell in love," mentioned Ledesma.

"You not only make so many friends that you don't know or you didn't know before, but it also gives you a chance to be yourself," Balwin stated.

If interested in checking out each of the murals created by these teenagers, the sites include Adado Riverfront Park, Lansing City Market, Sir Pizza in Old Town, and the final destination is located at the storm drain across the street from the REACH Studio Art Center on South Washington Avenue.