Goldsboro, N.C. – In a powerful blend of restorative justice and artistic expression, the ArtXecute program is transforming lives across Wayne County. Spearheaded by Barbara Jones—attorney, educator, and theater veteran—the initiative has become a vibrant, community-rooted effort to combat gang involvement among youth through the arts.
ArtXecute, a program under Community Supporting Schools (CSS), was born out of a call to action from the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC), which asked Jones and her team to address rising gang activity in the area. But rather than rely on assumptions, Jones began with research.
“I didn’t want to be arrogant and assume I knew why kids joined gangs,” she said. “What I found was that many of them are simply searching for a place to belong.”
That search led to a revelation: the arts could provide that missing sense of belonging, community, and self-expression. Drawing inspiration from Wilmington’s DREAMS Center for Arts Education, Jones and her colleagues tailored a similar program for Wayne County’s unique needs. Thus, ArtXcute was born.
A Theater with a Mission
ArtXecute is far more than an after-school activity. It’s a year-round arts education program with a mission to create lasting community bonds. Through acting, singing, dance, and even African drumming, the program gives children—and increasingly, adults—a safe and inclusive space to explore their creativity.
The age range initially targeted was 8 to 18, but exceptions have become the norm. Their recent production of The Lion King Jr. featured cast members as young as three years old. “If a student can focus and not crawl up the wall like Spider-Man,” Jones joked, “they’re welcome.”
Though the initial aim was gang intervention, the focus shifted toward prevention—a strategy Jones says is more effective and sustainable. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” she emphasized. “It’s easier to prevent a child from going down that path than to pull them back from it.”
Building a Stage and a Family
Each production isn’t just a show—it’s a months-long journey that includes workshops, community outings, mentorship, and family-like relationships. Kids learn more than lines or choreography; they learn about themselves, teamwork, and trust. After The Lion King Jr., students were taken to see the Broadway version at DPAC in Durham. Some traveled to Washington, D.C. Others were celebrated with birthday parties and basketball game support.
Jones proudly calls ArtXecute “a community theater in the truest sense,” noting the generous local support the program has received—from small donations to a full building donated by community leader David Will. That new home, the ACME Building in downtown Goldsboro, will house future rehearsals and black box-style performances, including student-written and directed plays.
Theater as a Tool for Equity
The productions serve as a platform for intergenerational collaboration. Adults are often invited to join the cast, not just to fill roles but to mentor. What started out of necessity during Moe’s Town—a play Jones wrote herself—has now become a cornerstone of the program’s success.
Looking Ahead: More Than Theater
ArtXecute is expanding. While theater is currently its primary medium, Jones envisions a future that includes film, music, and behind-the-scenes technical training. With help from her own children—a filmmaker and a musician—Jones plans to offer a wider spectrum of opportunities to students who may not feel comfortable on stage.
Auditions for Annie begin August 22, following a six-week summer arts intensive starting July 7. And for students with original scripts or ideas, Jones is listening.
“Yes, absolutely,” she said when asked if student-written plays could be performed. “There’s nothing more powerful than giving young people the chance to lead creatively.”
A Labor of Love
Jones admits she would choose ArtXecute over her legal career if it ever came to that. “This is what I would do for free,” she said. “And I want people around me who feel the same.”
The program’s success, she insists, is due in large part to the outpouring of community support. “There is no community theater without the community,” Jones often says.
From local businesses donating food to volunteers offering mentorship, ArtXcute is a testament to what happens when a community invests in its children—not just to keep them out of trouble, but to help them shine.
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