My Story of Art Education & Healing Arts

My journey and passion for the arts as empowerment and healing began in my personal studio practice. I found a space of freedom and expression for my soul to visually journal, grow and transform. In 2013 I stepped into a role as the Healing Through Education and Arts Coordinator for SCAD Serve, guiding arts as healing programming in the oncology hospital department. This opportunity awakened my passion for sharing the healing arts with others outside of my personal experiences. My journey continued as an art educator for multiple organizations including Loop it Up Savannah, GA, The Center of Contemporary Art, NJ, the One River School of Art & Design, NJ and The School for the Arts, NJ. Through these organizations I created transformational art and yoga classes for at-risk elementary school children, teaching pottery, painting, printmaking, fashion and drawing classes for children ages K-12. I can barely count the numbers of lives I’ve been able to touch through the arts, I am so honored.

With my love for travel and service, in 2014 I traveled to Ghana, Africa for 1 month with the organization Pioneers offering art as healing workshops for children in impoverished communities. After graduating from SCAD with my B.F.A. Painting I embarked on a new adventure. In 2015 I became the Arts as Healing Director for Rahab’s Rope, a non-profit organization that exist to empower women and children in the fight against human trafficking. I lived in different areas of India for 7 months where I guided art projects with women and children rescued from trafficking. Specifically, I spent my time going into the red-light district (where women and girls are trafficked). I also spent my time working with children who had been rescued from the red-light district and placed into a temporary orphanage. In addition, I created a body of artwork for Rahab’s Rope’s long-term rescue and retreat home for these abused girls and women. Since then, I have returned to India two times, volunteering and empowering youth through education and healing arts.

Upon returning home, the work I did in India changed my life forever. I was profoundly inspired to serve the women and children in need in my own community in NJ. In 2017 I founded Light to Earth Healing, offering an art as healing and integrative wellness program for children, teenage girls and women struggling through depression.