For Corinn Mapp, Step Year at WMCAT was more than just an opportunity — it was a community that helped her grow. Through mentorship, career exploration, and building connections with her peers and local employers, Corinn found the courage to bring her dream of being an artist to life.
“ I used to think that certain things were impossible for me, and I’ve done them. So, what else am I thinking is impossible that is possible?”
Corinn remembers, “I didn’t really believe in myself as an artist. I was like, ‘I do art. I’m not an artist.’”
Now, five years since completing Step Year, she has made significant headway on the goal she once felt was unrealistic. She has elevated her voice and art as a keynote speaker at SXSW EDU and showcased her work in ArtPrize and exhibitions with family members. “I always thought art looked one way . . . for old, stuffy people who didn’t look like me. Step Year built my imagination around what art can be.” At WMCAT, Corinn gained the support of her classmates, made community connections, and found an instructor who believed in her (even when she wasn’t so sure) — all of whom helped her believe that her dream could — and would — be her reality.
Corinn with her Step Year cohort on an industry visit to Start Garden.