May 2026

The Art with a Heart programming team basked in the joy of celebrating our students’ hard work and creativity at the Show What You Know - Child First Authority's Showcase at Morgan State University. This year’s theme honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Student installations for the event included large clouds featuring inspirational quotes, recycled paper rainbows, and giant sunflowers that reflect themes of hope, unity, and imagination.

The team was also honored and humbled to receive the Partner of the Year Award from Child First Authority! We are grateful for this collaboration and the opportunity to work alongside an organization that shares our deep commitment to Baltimore's children and families.

Art with a Heart’s Art Show was a tremendous success. Artists, friends, families, supporters, and other community members gathered to celebrate Art with a Heart teachers, assistants, interns, apprentices, and volunteers. The exhibition featured 91 original artworks and welcomed 140 guests. Thanks to the support of our community, over half of the artworks were sold, directly benefiting participating artists and Art with a Heart. Artists who had not previously displayed and sold their artwork watched people appreciate, talk about, and buy their work.

Bloom & Create: A Mother’s Day Experience was enjoyed by a sold-out crowd!! Guests designed their own mosaic vases using ceramics, china, and found objects - some guests incorporated personal trinkets in their creations. Each guest left with a beautiful fresh flower bouquet from our friends at Brookfield Blooms which complemented their vases. Stay tuned - there will be more fun, creative workshops offered in the coming months.

Art with a Heart recently installed a meaningful mixed-media mural that combines glass, mirror, ceramics, and painted elements to celebrate the history, legacy, and future of the Edmondson community. Designed and produced by Art with a Heart, the project was co-created with residents and community members, including members of the “Rodman Royals” aging adult group and students from Edmondson-Westside High School. Through this intergenerational collaboration, participants worked side by side to contribute mosaic pieces and painted details that now live together as a vibrant reflection of community connection, creativity, and shared storytelling. The mural was made possible with the generous support of AARP in partnership with Mary E. Rodman Recreation Center and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks.

Art with a Heart programs blossomed with creativity this May! Students have been working hard putting finishing touches on their projects and showcasing the artistic skills that they have developed throughout the year, from watercolor blending techniques to intricate pattern design. It has been a joy to watch each student grow in confidence and self-expression, turning blank canvases into bold reflections of their unique voices and experiences.

Community Art and Service

Art with a Heart's Community Art and Service team enjoyed an abundance of service groups and volunteers this month. The team engaged the Sinai Hospital and Grace Medical Center communities as they celebrated their healthcare heroes and co-created mosaics for their individual spaces. In addition to those communities, Art with a Heart is grateful for the time and support this month from the following groups: BKM, Battle Monument School, Breakthrough Type 1 Diabetes, R.W.Baird, Chizuk Amuno Congregation, Calvert School, Impact Life Health Services, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Morgan State Women in Construction, St. Timothy's School, T. Rowe Price, Third Space, and Under Armour.

And lastly, the team installed a multi-media project at Arundel House of Hope. The installation included more than 100 ceramic doves plus eight peace poles - sculpted ceramic cylinders - all made by community members and clients. As one Arundel House of Hope client said upon seeing the installation, "there's a lot of love out here now."

It was a busy month for the HeARTworks/HeARTwares team. We welcomed two BTC/Project Search students who joined the HeARTwares team as Store Associate Apprentices, learning inventory and customer service skills. Students also enjoyed connecting with City Council President Zeke Cohen and local groups at the Field Trip Fridays kickoff, unveiling free summer field trip options for YouthWorks participants. And, at Christopher’s Place, participants worked closely with Workforce Development Coordinator Klause Ferrell, on a collaborative mosaic, fostering creativity and teamwork, with the finished piece to be unveiled at their June graduation.

In May, Cohort 11 participated in their full-day retreat at Outward Bound. Students had a great time fostering greater connections through teambuilding activities, challenged themselves on the high ropes course, and deepened their understanding of leadership and belonging. Throughout the day, they strengthened skills like communication, teamwork, courage, and self-awareness. With graduation in June, students gathered back at Art with a Heart to reflect on their growth, sharing how they’ve changed through the program and how they hope to carry these lessons forward into their schools, communities, and future leadership journeys.