Picture a day of volunteer training at Free Arts. The room fills with people drawn to this work for reasons they may or may not name. Many carry their own histories of difficulty. Some are close to the surface, and some are buried deep. I have seen two patterns emerge almost every time. Some volunteers arrive ready to disclose. The room feels safe. The mission resonates. The impulse to share...
The question came at the end of my workshop: 'SNAP benefits (food assistance for low-income individuals and families) are being cut off in a week. With your workshop in mind, what do we do?' Our workshop focused on how helpers can show up in key ways to support the growth of children and teens. I...
My Thoughts About Fiscal Year 2025 (and A Story about Trees). Recently, at Parsons Place (the Free Arts building), some trees had to be removed from the area near the front entrance. Over time, they had grown progressively further away from the building and were producing a diagonal body based at the root. After a...
Right now, kids who’ve experienced trauma need your help. The transition back to school is stressful, and arts programs at their schools are reeling from budget cuts.
Today, I am asking for your support because I know you care. While we ended last year on solid financial ground, we are now facing challenging headwinds. Can we call on you for a donation, ensuring our ability to serve youth and families?
The end of the calendar year, with its busyness related to work, school, and upcoming holidays, often provokes mixed emotions in people. For the children, teens, and families that Free Arts serves, this time of year can surface their ongoing feelings regarding change, loneliness, and loss.
Every day, families seek safety and refuge at one of the several domestic violence shelters in the valley. Frightened, exhausted, and needing care, these families need a full array of wraparound services. Free Arts’s mission includes serving those affected by this unfortunate reality by partnering with shelters to offer programs that transform trauma into resilience...
As I write this, the calendar tells me it is the second day of fall. In the Phoenix area, that means that we are starting to feel a brisk breeze in the 90s (that is some Arizona weather humor for those outside of the area). As the seasons change, it feels natural to reflect on...
