Merletta Martin always felt painting gave her a chance to see the world with fresh eyes. On her profile at TheBlackList, she writes, "My work is a reflection of nature and the universe as I perceive it. I dream of viewers being able to walk into each painting and experiencing that time and place with me."
For many youth growing up in dangerous communities, the ability to experience the vision, the time and the place of a painting may be a necessary escape from the harsh realities of day to day life. Martin honors this idea with her latest innovative art project – Black Legends Series – aimed to fund art programs in schools.
Black Legends Series is a line of motivational greeting cards that Martin hopes will inspire people of all ages with quotes from notable African-Americans and artwork from the Merletta J. Martin Gallery. African-American entrepreneurs, best-selling authors, and media personalities will form a partnership with Martin on this project. A portion of all proceeds will go towards funding art programs in schools.
It is statistically proven that youth participating in arts programs are more likely to achieve academic success and to be kept out of legal systems – particularly in urban communities with at-risk youth. This is an important fact to consider as Americans for the Arts reports that every day 2,833 children drop out of school. Moreover, youth account for 18 percent of violent crime in the U.S. and an estimated 135,000 children carry guns to school each day.
According to former Attorney General Janet Reno, arts programs offer a unique opportunity for inner city children to "engage in positive, constructive activities that have been proven in deterring delinquent behavior."
Martin hopes her Black Legends Series will offer this benefit to society. "I believe the Black Legends Series presents a special opportunity for generations of people to learn from the legends’ successes. As we face a critical juncture in our nation’s history with our schools and economy in crisis, now is the time for us to make a positive change," she says. 
