June 2024

Happenings!

25th Anniversary Collectibles!

Celebrate the upcoming 25th Anniversary of Art with a Heart with our exclusive collection of limited edition items! Each item in the collection is one of only 25, making them unique and highly collectible. Our first item, the Mini Pop Art Trashcan, was released on June 1st and is a cute and colorful replica of our larger trashcans. Coming up on July 1st is item 2: the Lock-it Heart Pendant. This stunning piece features a hand-painted, double-sided heart design encased in a glass frame that hangs on a leather cord. Keep an eye out for our monthly releases and be sure to add them all to your collection. Click the links below to order yours today!

Tiny Pop Art Trashcan

Lock-It Heart Pendant

Road to 25 Spotlight: Laurice Royal

This month we are shining a light on Laurice Royal! For six years, Laurice has been an integral part of the leadership at Art with a Heart and is the newly appointed President of our Board of Directors. Laurice brings a wealth of experience as a retired attorney, having served as the Practice Group Leader and Chief Counsel for Employment, Labor and Organization Equity at the Johns Hopkins Health System. Currently, Laurice works part time as a Senior Legal Advisor for Impact Justice. In addition to her impressive professional background, Laurice is also an accomplished artist. She volunteers with Art with a Heart and has honed her skills in mosaic art, jewelry design, and various other creative endeavors. We are grateful to have Laurice as a part of the Art with a Heart community and we thank her for her service to the organization.

FashionEASTa Event in Harbor East

On Saturday, June 1st, Art with a Heart was honored to be the nonprofit partner of the 11th annual FashionEASTa event in Harbor East. This event celebrated both fashion and food, featuring a dazzling runway show, delectable culinary offerings, and live musical performances. The event also allowed us to raise awareness of the organization and its impact, resulting in a generous donation of $1,165 from a portion of the VIP ticket sales. 

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Programming

The Art with a Heart programming branch had a busy June, completing the school year, hosting professional development workshops, and preparing for summer programs. Highlights include an Art with a Heart mosaic workshop for Baltimore City Public School - Community School Coordinators and collaborations with The University of Maryland Medical Center, Transformation Nation and House of Ruth . Also, students at Beechfield Elementary/Middle School created Basquiat -inspired crowns, while others painted elaborate and interesting portraits.

Impressionists

In June, Art with a Heart had another great evening with Impressionists! The Impressionists are young professionals who regularly gather at Art with a Heart every fourth Thursday from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. This group of volunteers do hands-on art projects that support Art with a Heart and the work it does in the community. No art abilities are necessary - tasks include sorting materials to working with clay, paint, or creating a mosaic. We provide soft drinks, beer and wine, and snacks. These meetups are very social and fun! Interested in learning more? Email amylangrehr@artwithaheart.net.

HeARTworks/HeARTwares

The HeARTware/ HeARTworks team is excited to introduce you to our newest member, Kimora! After impressing us with her talent and dedication as an intern, we are thrilled to have Kimora join us in a more permanent role for the summer. Her exceptional skills in producing high-quality art have not only enhanced the beauty of our projects, but will also serve as inspiration for the students in the HeARTworks summer program.  


Also this month, the Art with a Heart team had a great time at the 1st Annual Hampden Highlights festival! Thank you to the organizers for their generous donation to Art with a Heart. We are honored and humbled to have been the recipient of a portion of the proceeds from the event. 


In other news, in June, students form Baltimore Transition Connection completed their year-long HeARTworks program!! The students had SO much fun working with teachers, Faith and Ellen. Many thanks to these hardworking and dedicated teachers! We couldn’t have done it without them!

Special Projects

This month, Special Projects was proud to install a ceramic flower mural created by the students at Talbott Springs Elementary School in Columbia, Maryland! Hundreds of brightly glazed flowers are featured on the panels that hang in the school's community garden and are visible from the windows of many classrooms!


Also in June, staff and volunteers helped to complete a mosaic welcome sign created by the students at Curtis Bay Elementary and designed by Art with a heart intern, Fahmida Hossain. The sign welcomes visitors to "the Best School in Baltimore."

Lastly, work is underway on a three part, large exterior mural at William Paca Elementary School! Stay tuned for progress photos, and sign up here to help out!

Art of Leadership: Cohort 9 Graduation!

The Art of Leadership Cohort 9 proudly marked their graduation on June 23rd. The event was a heartwarming culmination of the students' hard work, with their loved ones in attendance. Notable speeches were given by Bailey DesRoches, Director of Leadership and Engagement, Isha Chaudhuri, a member of Cohort 9, and fellows Michael Oliver, Isabel Cuffari, and Ivana Awuah from Cohort 8, along with Malana Stanley from Cohort 1. Jasmine Artis, a former graduate from Art with a Heart's workforce development program, added a delicious touch to the celebration by baking personalized cookies through her business Artis Cakes & Creations. It was a joyous occasion, honoring the shared journey of growth, resilience, and connection of Cohort 9. Through open discussions, diverse perspectives, and shared experiences, these young leaders have formed strong bonds and a meaningful sense of community.

Community Art and Service

Community Art and Service has had a busy month preparing materials and supplies for summer programs and workforce development. The team also facilitated a community art day with the Milton Montford Neighborhood Association to honor Ms. Sarah Broadwater, a long-time Milton Montford resident and community leader. Ms. Sarah has served as President of the Neighborhood Association for over 30 years.

Thank You Volunteers!

Art with a Heart is grateful for those who shared their time and talent with Art with a Heart during the month of June: BGE/Exelon, SECU Virtual Tellers, Peabody Institute, McDonogh School, ECS, Health Policy Research Scholars, Collegetown, Penn-Mar and our wonderful cadre of regulars who show up each week to help with any and all needs of the organization. Thank you all!

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3000 Falls Road | Mill No. 1 | Baltimore, MD 21211