Just an art teacher
For those who don’t know me, I’m the director and an instructor at Awakening Minds Art (AMA for short). Our mission is simple but powerful: to bring the benefits of visual art to all ages and all abilities –
everyone belongs in art.
This morning, I had the joy of driving up to Toledo to visit another nonprofit – a center serving individuals with traumatic brain injuries. I went in just to learn and ended up absolutely falling in love with their mission. It struck such a personal chord with me because it not only aligns beautifully with AMA’s values, but also connects to my own story. My late mother had a stroke 20 years ago and lived with its effects every day until she died. As I toured the center, all I could think was: she really could have used this place!
So, there I was, not expecting anything from the visit (don’t tell my boss😅), just soaking it all in… and wouldn’t you know it? The timing was perfect. Out of this visit, AMA will likely hold regular classes there, opening the door for more people to experience the joy and healing of art.
A new partnership is formed!
Three thoughts flooded my brain on the drive home:
I’m ridiculously lucky. I get to lead AMA into spaces where art can make a difference, and I get to be “the art lady” teaching it. How did I land the best job in the world?
This is bigger than art. Art is the tool we use, but what we’re really doing is building confidence, developing and sustaining skills, and connecting people to something larger than themselves. (Want more proof? Check out my blogs on therapeutic art and art + memory – art is kind of a superpower!)
Partnerships make us stronger. Community collaborations are what make AMA thrive. They connect us with people who need both their services and ours. From dementia care to foster care, from recovery programs to senior centers – life requires more than one kind of support. When nonprofits work together, everyone wins.
Why this matters for giving
I don’t feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, or cure diseases. But AMA can work alongside organizations who do, making sure the people they serve also find confidence, community, and an affirming place to develop further. Together, we create more complete support systems.
That’s why, when you’re deciding where to give, look at who collaborates. Strong partnerships are a sign of strong impact.
And here’s my shameless plug (because there’s nothing dirty about asking for what makes the mission possible!): Donate to Awakening Minds Art. As a community partner, we believe in building each other up and amplifying the strengths already present in our community. [Find donation options here!]
But beyond us – follow your heart. Find the organizations whose partnerships inspire you and give there too. Because when we all work together, our whole community grows stronger.
So, maybe I’m not “just an art teacher” after all.
Maybe I’m a lucky guide who gets to watch art open doors for people who never even thought they belonged in the room. At Awakening Minds Art, we believe everyone belongs in art—and every new partnership reminds me how true that is.