In 2018, partially supported by Chapelstreet Church and alongside my daughters, I began a mural painting and mentoring program for juvenile residents at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center on the outskirts of Chicago. In 2019 my work expanded to include a teaching residency, funded by a Title I Grant from Kane County’s Regional Office of Education. In 2020 I officially named my pilot program Work Beyond the Walls (WBTW). Through mural painting projects and graphic arts classes, I have worked to bring relevant visual arts opportunities to more than 50 court involved youth over the past two years.

Mission

Providing relevant and engaging project based visual arts programming for marginalized and adjudicated youth, and creating meaningful connections between design principles and life skills.

Vision

Building a community of young people with artistic grit, empowered by the creative process both personally and collaboratively, to build confidence, enrich their lives and transform their communities.