If you are anything like me, you are eagerly awaiting your annual W-2 that is coming just around the corner. Don’t get me wrong, doing my taxes is not my favorite task — However, I do look forward to taking advantage of Arizona’s unique Charitable Tax Credits. It is the easiest way that I can...
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...
Celebrating IES Communications: A Month of Incredible Generosity We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to IES Communications for their outstanding volunteerism and fundraising efforts this past month. Their commitment to making a difference has truly inspired us. Recently IES hosted their National Leadership Summit in Chandler and chose Free Arts as their nonprofit partner—a...
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...
On September 14, 2025, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts was buzzing with excitement—a lively mix of artists, participants, parents, Free Arts staff, volunteers, board members, and members of the general public. The event was a prime example of what the arts do better than anything else—to bring people from all walks of life together...
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.
We now have two current staff members—Beth Garrett-Coleman and Bea Bohannon—who have progressed from volunteer, to intern, to staff assistant, to coordinator, to manager, to now a Director level position within our organization. Quite a journey! We sat down to hear from them what that progression has been like.
