Children Art’s Centre

Youth Enrichment Coordinator

With USES since 2006

In your time at USES, what has been your greatest personal achievement?

A few of the programs that I’ve expanded and begun in the last few months.  Taking what was already here and adding to it.  The Creative Playspace, I’m really proud of because that was a whirlwind and from scratch, and now it’s running and it’s great.  We have seen an increase in participation in classes and an increase in the size of events like Arts in the Park.

On a day-to-day basis, who or what inspires you?

The experience I’ve had of watching kids and families make friendships through their common love of art.  It’s true especially of the kids in a long-term program like the summer program where they’re experiencing a level of creativity on a constant basis that they’ve not had at school, and they’re doing it with kids they might not be friends with at school.  There’s different income levels, different cultural backgrounds, different religious beliefs.  I feel like the boundaries are totally brought down.  They’re having a great time, and they don’t even realize they’ve crossed this boundary.  But they will and it will make a big difference in their lives.

What is USES to you?

USES is the place where I have learned and grown and added an immense variety of professional skills over the past few years.  It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to work at the Children’s Art Centre.  As a staff of one, I’ve been given the reins of the department and given the freedom to be creative.