Dear Friends of Free Arts,
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 the past year at Free Arts. This year has been full of changes, each showing moments of challenge and triumph. These experiences exemplify a core value of Free Arts: resilience.
Over the past year, we have:
- Expanded our outreach and relationship-building to support Free Art Days in the Prescott and Tucson areas.
- Met our annual participant service goals by the end of July (the third quarter of our fiscal year)
- Held a year-long conversation with staff and the board about elements of the strategic plan, assessing progress, noting lessons learned, and aligning resources to meet Free Arts’ vision and mission.
- Worked hard at redrafting our volunteer training experience to include more information on our participants’ lived experiences to ensure an inclusive and healing experience.
I look back on my first year as the Executive Director with immense gratitude. Free Arts is a special place that creates vital experiences for participants. I regularly engage with longtime supporters as well as people who are learning about our work for the first time. The constant delight and excitement from those who witness our work is inspiring! Your support, whether it’s been for years or just recently, is what makes our work so fulfilling. Thank you!
I look forward to the future, noting a mix of lessons learned and blessings realized. It is fair to say that we have work to do to make our transformative programs available to all who wish for it in Arizona. It is also quite clear from our program evaluations that hopeful change is the outcome of our programs and the efforts of our volunteer mentors and staff. We are also excited to continue teaching and leading in the child-wellbeing space through various workshops and keynote presentations.
Over the next several weeks and months, we will share more highlights at Free Arts. In the meantime, we would love to connect with you. Whether through a tour of Parsons Place (the Free Arts building), a coffee conversation, or a phone call, we cannot wait to share stories of bravery, connection, and creativity with you.
Thank you again for your support! You make a difference!
Matt Sandoval
Executive Director
