THE ARTS MAKE AMERICA GREAT

Sometimes it is not about how the arts directly effect us,it is the way the arts effect those we work with or are around us. By seeing first hand how the arts can have an impact on individuals around us -they have an indirect effect on ourselves-the ARTS are powerful. Art and Relationship Building By Nicole Johnson Roberson, LCSW, MSW I was a school social worker at a private school in Washington, D.C. when I was introduced to Robert. Robert was a unique young man, as was the school he attended. This private school primarily served teenagers with special needs and Robert was a first-year student when we began working together. As a school social worker, our main responsibility was to provide clinical support as identified on each student’s individualized education plan. This support was provided through clinical counseling, group work and advocacy. Since Robert was a new student, I was particularly interested in helping him acclimate to his new environment. The first...

                                  LOVE UNITES                                       hate destroys                         the arts heal,empower and unite                          ONE AMERICA,ONE WORLD                                          an ARTS PROJECT                

I had the honor of meeting Gary and Chandri Barat in early 2000 at my Breaking Down The Walls,Reaching Youth At Risk Through The Arts Conference at Rutgers University. Gary told me about their dream to actually open an arts center in Newark and you could hear the determination and excitement in his voice and knew that this was going to be a reality. The fact that they made this happen is a testament to their belief in the power of the arts to transform lives and communities and their power to believe in themselves. I congratulate them for everything they have accomplished and proud to call them friends. This is their story: In 1989 Gary Barat, co-founder with his wife, Chandri, of the first natural foods company to go public in the US, was diagnosed with a life-threatening, and at the time unspeakable, illness.  After doing their best to continue life as if things were normal, Chandri and Gary soon decided to quit their day jobs as pioneers creating vegetarian tofu entrees...

I have asked everyone for stories of how the arts have had an impact on your lives so I think it is time for me to explain why this is so important to me. This is my story.   The ARTS have been a consistent energy force sparking my passion and ideology. As far back as I could remember the arts have been a key element in my survival. When I was in elementary school I would sit in the back of the room creating special art projects for the teacher, I would spend my time at home drawing and writing elaborate stories, I literally created my own world through the arts, in middle school I remember having a very hard time and felt I never fit in and was never happy with myself so I started writing poetry. In the eighth grade, I remember showing my poems to my English teacher, I remember her saying they were depressing. I remember my eighth-grade art teacher constantly encouraging me and when I felt I was not good enough to apply for a special arts high school she continued to enco...

Today we are starting our first fundraising campaign for the ARTS IN HEALTH PROJECT: the first organization is ARTWORKS, THE NAOMI COHAIN FOUNDATION,The mission of ArtWorks, The Naomi Cohain Foundation is to improve the healthcare experience of pediatric patients by providing programs in the creative and performing arts. ArtWorks provides children and young adults facing chronic and life-limiting illnesses, and their families, access to empowering and expressive art programs!                                                                                                                                                  Help ...

I first met Cynthia via social media when she first reached out to me in response to my initial idea of marketing the impact and power of the arts through stories placing a humanistic value on the arts after the election. She has encouraged me every step of the way. Since that initial contact we have become friends and she believes in the power and impact of the arts as much as I do and she has helped spread the word about our campaign when and wherever she can. She is an amazingly committed and enthusiastic individual when it comes to her belief in the arts and I want to thank her for all her help. She is a true ARTS warrior.                                                                                                       ...

Today we are beginning a new project placing a spotlight on arts organizations and arts projects doing amazing work across the USA. I want to thank all of these organizations for believing in the power of the arts.                          the sunflower is by Elena and Gabi is the sister with the great dog pictures!                                         ARTWORKS,The Naomi Cohain Foundation I had the privilege of meeting Daniela Mendalsohn back in early 2002 when she first started this great organization. She has done an amazing job creating and growing ARTWORKS into the organization it is today,which was inspired by her late cousin Naomi Cohain. Daniela saw the impact the arts had on her cousin during her illness and was determined to honor her in a way which would help other children and young adults thro...