Art was such a positive and formative part of my youth, it exposed me to different cultures, ideas and perspectives and catapulted me to the transformed person and Artist I am today. I was fortunate enough in my childhood to be enrolled in private art lessons, visit museums on weekends, and attend a school where art programming was a priority. I feel extraordinarily passionate about making sure students who don’t have access to the luxuries of private lessons or school backed arts programming, still have the opportunity to nurture and grow the artist and creative thinker inside of them. I’ve witnessed firsthand the benefits art provides for learners of all levels. It nurtures creative problem-solving skills and grows critical thinking tools. Through After-school Artists Collective, we are able to take the financial burden off of parents while investing in the future of children who might not otherwise have access to after-school and extracurricular art programming.