Only hours had passed since my parents had been detained, yet Id already resolved something in my heart. I would not leave Boston. I would not throw away the miracle Id been given to attend Boston Arts Academy. Getting into that school has been the greatest thing that had happened to meand I was not willing to give it up. Whatever I needed to do to stay, I was ready to do that and more.
From the memoir In the Country We Love written by three-time Screen Actors Guild Award winner and BAA alumna, Diane Guerrero.
All too often we are reminded that without Boston Arts Academy (BAA), many of our students, though talented, may never have had the opportunity to realize their full potential. 62% of BAA students come from economically disadvantaged families, and professional arts training is often financially unattainable. Many students arrive at BAA with little to no formal arts training and a wide range of academic abilities. Because of the generosity of friends and supporters of BAA, our students enjoy opportunities that are otherwise inaccessible to them.