A Note from Art with a Heart
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Dear Friends:
WOW! This year sure flew. This time last year, Art with a Heart was taking a leap of faith and moving from its comfortable yet very crowded home on Keswick Road to its new, larger space in Mill No. 1. While the move was challenging, we were reminded that without challenge, there can be no change. The challenges were met head on by the committed Art with a Heart team, Board members, and volunteers.
Once we settled in the new space,
magic happened. The collective creativity of the Art with a Heart team including four new members, had space to evolve, to explore, to think big and to make the big ideas a reality.
We committed to using the new space for additional opportunities to help elevate the Baltimore
community
. Field trips for classes to the Art with a Heart workshop space were added to our efforts with one
enthusiastic
four year old, pre-kindergartner saying as he entered, "we never go ANYWHERE!" The commitment expanded into every branch of the organization and in 2018 Art with a Heart provided more classes in the community than ever before,
engaged more students and interns,
facilitated
more
community
art
workshops, provided more
professional
development
opportunities
and hosted community organizations in a colorful alternative space to the usual meeting or team-building venues. The organization also expanded its offerings with new technologies, two 3-D printers, the Makers Foundation curriculum (expanding computer technology in the arts) and a kiln all became part of the organization's
vernacular
and have been exciting
additions
to the work.
If you have not been to our location in Mill No. 1, come visit. You will "get it" right away...the work, the passion, and the difference Art with a Heart is making in the Baltimore community. On behalf of the entire Art with a Heart team, thank you for helping to make 2018 a tremendously successful year for the organization. I hope you will consider making a gift in 2019 to help Art with a Heart continue this exciting momentum. Thank you!
A Happy and Healthy New Year to you all!
Randi
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A Look Back at Programming
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In the last year, Art with a Heart provided 14,814 visual art classes to children, youth and adults in Baltimore area schools, shelters, group homes, recreation centers, city parks, treatment facilities, foster care agencies, hospitals and senior facilities. Special initiatives launched last year including Science Outside the Lines, a STEAM program with students at Henderson Hopkins Elementary/Middle School through a partnership with Master's Degree candidates from Johns Hopkins Medical School, a program with veterans at Perry Point VA Medical Center, and the mobile arts initiative, Art in the Park, all grew and expanded this year. Art with a Heart also developed and implemented a specific curriculum for English as a Second language programs. The organizations in-school programming efforts expanded to 22 schools and works to supplement existing visual art programs or to fill a void in the school's arts programming.
Art with a Heart hosted its
70 teachers in five professional development workshops including two
RAMAPO for Children training sessions and continued to include among its protocols, trauma informed care and mindfulness training for everyone working with its students. Art with a Heart staff attended nine conferences and continuing education programs including Promoting Positive Behaviors, Developing Inclusive Programs, Responding, Reflecting and Repairing; National Conference for Community Arts Education; Trauma Informed Care Training; and Institute for Integrative Health Summit on Whole Health.
Art with a Heart's visual art programs are shown to be effective at improving communication and peer relations, encouraging goal setting, enhancing the capability for problem-solving and creative thinking.
    
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A Look Back at Community Service
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Art with a Heart is grateful for the time and talent of the thousands of volunteers who have dedicated their time and talent to the organization over the last year. In 2018, Art with a Heart engaged
3,732 volunteers in
21,302 hours of service (the equivalent of 10 extra full time employees!) and includes 50 interns from 12 different colleges and universities, 47 interns from 13 different high schools and training programs, and 70 high school student volunteers
. Over the last year, Art with a Heart also engaged
115 service groups
in meaningful community efforts.
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A Look Back at Public Art
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In the last year, Art with a Heart completed
27 large scale public art installations
including 10 large scale mosaic murals. To date, Art with a Heart has installed over 300 inspiring, one-of-kind beautification projects in the Balitmore community.
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A Look Back at HeARTworks
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HeARTworks, Art with a Heart's workforce development program, continues to be a great asset to its participants and to Baltimore community with
114 students completing the program and a 79% job placement rate for out-of-school time youth. This year, Art with a Heart has cultivated new partnerships with ¡Adelante Latina!, Banner Neighborhoods, Belair Edison Neighborhoods, Inc. and St. Peter's Adult Day Services.
One of the unique benefits of the larger workshop space is that Art with a Heart can strategically plan for community groups to do service while the HeARTworks participants are in session. It is undoubtedly a
mutually beneficial experience for participants and community members to engage with each other while working on art projects.
 
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A Look Back at HeARTwares
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The larger HeARTwares space has also provided for increased opportunities for community gatherings, workshops and team-building programs. To learn more about the HeARTwares space for your next event, contact Yolanda Jenkins at [email protected].
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A Look Back at the Art of Leadership
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In September 2018, Art with a Heart's third cohort of Art of Leadership students graduated from the 13 month program. The 22 students from 18 public and independent schools enjoyed a year of learning about community, sharing new experiences and having challenging dialogues across cultural barriers. The students remain committed to completing their capstone project in collaboration East Baltimore Safe Streets to memorialize individuals who have been victims of violence in their community.
The fourth cohort is well underway. To date, students in the fourth cohort (19 students from 18 public and independent schools) have experienced deep and challenging discussions about race and class, learned about advocacy, and experienced their first retreat.
Art with a Heart is currently recruiting for its fifth cohort of Art of Leadership students. T
he application is available
here
and is due Friday, March 15, 2019.
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Thank You!
Thank you for helping to make 2018 a tremendously successful year for Art with a Heart. We appreciate your ongoing support to provide continued momentum to our mission: to enhance the lives of people in need through visual art.
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