The Superhero Project creates joy one character at a time!  We interview youth with serious illnesses, special needs and disabilities to discover who their superhero alter-egos are - what they stand for, who they fight for, what kinds of powers they have, what they look like and how they'll make the world a better place.  Each child is then paired with a professional artist who creates the characters they describe, creating a visual representation of the strength, resilience and courage they have as they walk through the world.

The Superhero Project has interviewed nearly 250 children and teens, including kids from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and we are proud of the pantheon of new superheroes we've created - a group of characters that reflects the wonderful diversity of our community.  Since there is a critical need for children of color to see themselves represented in art and culture, we are creating a free traveling exhibit that will be displayed in libraries, community centers and schools across Cleveland. 

The exhibit will include posters of the new supeheroes, the initials and ages of the youth who created them, the artists' names, and a short character story for each one.  In addition, activity sheets will be available to inspire creativity in those who visit - a series of guided questions will allow viewers to imagine their own superhero and decide what powers they need to improve the world around them.  Information will be available for families with children eligible to have superheroes created for them and for artists who would like to volunteer.