Latest news from Art from Ashes!

AfA Youth Write Dreams on a Prayer Wheel

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Prayer Wheel (in progress)by Courtney Chandler

On July 11, 2016, Art from Ashes partnered with Arts Street and artist Deborah Jang to facilitate a workshop dedicated to a Denver-based community art project called Turn It Around. As a collaborative effort for this project, the group of youth at Arts Street and AfA’s drop-in workshops wrote oodles of prayers, in the form of 3-minute poems and drawings, expressing their hopes and aspirations for the betterment of our community and furthering racial equality.

Jang created three interactive sculptures inspired by Tibetan prayer wheels for her Turn It Around project, funded by Art Students League of Denver. Each hand-written youth poem was physically placed on the inside of one of the prayer wheel sculptures, which was just installed on February 10, 2017 at the light-rail station located at 10th Avenue and Osage Street—half a block away from AfA’s new office!

Next time you stop by our agency, be sure to spin the prayer wheel and spread our youth’s poetic love for our community.

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2017 Calendar!

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calendar-cover It’s finally here! The 2017 Art from Ashes calendar is a collaboration between Colorado artists and youth poets, coordinated by Drawing on Air facilitator and Art from Ashes Director of Programs Courtney Chandler!

Over the last 13 years, Art from Ashes has seen more than 10,000 youth come through our creative expression workshops throughout Colorado. We have collected several thousand poems that express life situations and vulnerable emotions, written in only three minutes. Their words often reflect the pain and suffering many have experienced in their young lives, and also expose the power and wisdom they’ve gained through their art. From these compelling poems, we had the difficult task of selecting only a few pieces that illustrate the incredible transformation our youth experience as a result of our creative empowerment program, Phoenix Rising.

In 2Courtney Chandler016, Art from Ashes collaborated with 13 distinguished visual artists in the Colorado community to produce this calendar. We asked the artists to create imagery that epitomized the powerful poetry written by these youth.

We would love to thank you for your donation of $25 or higher with this beautiful calendar. The donation will go towards the Drawing on Air youth empowerment program.

You can donate through ColoradoGives.org or through PayPal or by mail: Art from Ashes • 1310 West 10th Ave. • Denver, CO 80204

Or stop by the office and say hi! We’d love to thank you in person and show you our new space at the corner of 10th and Navajo.

Stay tuned for an art gallery opening at our new space on the corner of Navajo and 10th Avenue featuring some of the artists and our youth poets!

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Results

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Our surveys show our results. We provide more than poetry workshops, Art from Ashes shows young people that through the power of their creative genius, all things are possible in their lives.
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Download a pdf of our 2015 evaluation results

AfA’s pre and post surveys, conducted on youth in the Phoenix Rising program since 2009, show that the workshops develop youth connections to their communities and produce in youth a deeper belief in themselves and their potential, leading to improved social and emotional skills and behavior.

In 2015, surveys demonstrated

  • a 9% increase in youth who say they try hard in school
  • a 60% increase in youth who say they are good at setting goals
  • a 209% increase in youth who say they see themselves as poets
  • a 56% increase in youth who say they believe young people can be poets
  • a 73% increase in youth who say they spend time doing poetry

AfA’s youth empowerment programs are fundamental to providing the self-value and motivation necessary for youth to take advantage of educational opportunities, job and career counseling, drug and alcohol rehab, and mental health services.

The value of the program is regularly recognized by the community it serves, as evidenced by this recent testimonial: “I can’t thank you enough…The work that you do is helping to transform our school and inspire our students more than you may know.”
— Brian Sleevi, creative writing teacher at The New America School in Thornton, Colorado.

AfA’s evaluation results are integrated into ongoing curriculum design enhancement and program implementation, improved staff training, and communication of program results to community partners and funders.

AfA’s surveys include space for personal testimonials about the program. When asked what change, if any, they saw in their life as a result of this program, youth responses included:

  • “I have creative genius in me, and people want to hear it spoken.”
  • “Art from Ashes has helped me get into writing and finding the passion that had lay within.”
  • “I see a huge change. I didn’t know I could be the creative. In a way, I didn’t know how much I have in me.
  • “I will have more faith in myself when it comes to making important decisions in life.”

SCFD Grants

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SCFD LogoArt from Ashes has received grants from the Denver County Cultural Council, the Adams County Cultural Council, the Arapahoe County Cultural Council and the Douglas County Cultural Council to support workshops in those specific counties in 2018.

Thank you to the citizens of the SCFD counties who voted to continue SCFD funding!  See below for how much your decision to spend 1/10th of 1 penny impacts Colorado!

The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts analyzed the economic impact of arts organizations assisted by SCFD funding:

  • Economic activity: $1.8 billion
  • Cultural tourism: $367 million; capital expenditures: $55 million; federal grants: $90.8 million
  • Total jobs: 10,731 (This covers a broad array of positions, from curator to accountant to zookeeper to jazz teacher)
  • Total payroll: $165.2 million
  • Total seat sales and payroll taxes: $19.8 million
  • Total contributions: $176.4 million
  • Total attendance: 13.9 million (The average metro resident had 4.5 art experiences in 2015.)
  • Total outreach to children: 3.9 million
  • Total volunteers 42,415 (Hours spent volunteering reached 2,031,073.)
  • SCFD distributions: $53.2 million.

-Sonya Ellingboe, Castle Rock News-Press

We Moved!

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10th-navajoFor 13 years Art from Ashes has proclaimed the power of words — a power that is evident in the transformed lives of the youth we serve. This year, and especially these past several weeks, we have seen the power of hateful words to be very real, especially in the political arena. And that negative power hit home for Art from Ashes in a very real way, too. The rhetoric of fear has infected our relationship with our landlord. Formerly an ally, he has made it clear he can no longer support our stand for racial justice. Because of this tension and his unreasonable demand for a $1000 a month rent increase, we cannot continue to serve the youth in our current space.

Fear breeds fear, and we were terrified. We had no idea where to go so quickly or where we would find a place our small agency could afford. Art from Ashes staff and volunteers helped turn 853 Inca St from an ugly warehouse to the warm and comfortable place is has been for us, for the volunteers, for the community, and most importantly, for the youth for nearly 10 years.

But Art from Ashes handles fear with faith.

We had faith in our community, and our community rose to the occasion. The Denver Housing Authority is providing a welcoming home for our diverse population. We will be moving into the space at 10th and Navajo on December 29th–30th!newspace-2

The young people impacted by bigotry and abuse need us more than ever, because they also are angry, afraid and feeling unheard. Thanks to your vital support over the years, the generosity of our funders, the hard work of our staff, board and volunteers, and the good people at Denver Housing Authority, AfA will continue to give the youth the opportunity to be heard, because we know their creative power will transform the world for good.

Some think our country is moving backward, but Art from Ashes is pushing forward. Will you move forward with us?

Please let us know if you are willing to support our work with youth (in a new place in a new year!)

Thank you to all our volunteers for helping us move! Look forward to our upcoming “Illuminate” homewarming, gallery opening, and youth performance!

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Re-Live Running of the Gays 2016!

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About 60 fabulous runners came out this September for our seventh annual Running of the Gays event donned in boas, high heels and glamorous skirts to support Denver’s LGBTQ youth. All money raised at the event was put towards empowerment programs for youth at Voz y Corazon, a Mental Health Center of Denver organization providing suicide prevention services for youth, many of whom identify as LGBTQ+.

Our youth poets performed, local drag queens hosted the festivities and dozens of local Denver residents strutted the streets to celebrate the empowerment of Denver’s LGBTQ+ youth.

Art from Ashes has a long and involved history of supporting LGBTQ+ youth, a group often overlooked and silenced in society. In fact, 97.1% of youth involved in AfA programs affirm feeling safe, and 97.4% affirm they trust facilitators, both key elements in suicide prevention.

Of course, just because the work is serious doesn’t mean we can’t have fun! Check out our slideshow of some of our best moments from this year’s event. Next year, experience the fun and whimsy yourself and join us!

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New Vision for New America: A Teacher’s Testimony

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A testimonial we received from New America School teacher Brian Sleevi after Art from Ashes worked with his students in a series of workshops throughout the 2015-2016 school year. 

Art from Ashes joined my creative writing class twice a week during the 2015-16 school year. It was a joy turning the corner from the teachers’ lounge every Monday and Wednesday to find a line of students back early from lunch, eager to get to class for the workshops. For many students, this was the highlight of their day, and the most common student feedback was: “Art from Ashes brings positive energy into the classroom.” Students not only enjoyed themselves and grew emotionally during AfA, but also saw academic gains in language arts as a result.

I maintained an almost identical course to my other section of creative writing, and students in the AfA group performed similarly (if not better) and produced as much (if not more) than the other group, in only 50 percent of the class days. In fact, during the second quarter, 27 of the 28 students enrolled in the AfA class completed a final exam. During the fourth quarter, 100 percent of the students enrolled took a final exam, with 10 receiving an ‘A’. This is astounding considering that, on average, only about 60-75 percent of students in my other classes complete final exams, and very few earn an ‘A’.

Behavior improved, too. Students who generally need constant stimulation or attention were able to be respectful members of a community during the workshops, perhaps for the first time in their academic lives. Because of the classroom community AfA helped us build, my relationships with students, and their relationships with each other, were enhanced. My students and I became better writers, better citizens, and a better team thanks to the transformative work done by AfA’s skilled, caring facilitators.

It was of invaluable benefit having two hours a week to write alongside my students. I learned more about their lives and motivations by seeing them collaborate and express themselves creatively. I also learned from Courtney Chandler, the guest facilitators, and the guest poets. They all have a unique and thoughtful way of engaging our kids, and I’ve become a better teacher by watching them work.

Art from Ashes has become an integral part of the culture at New America School–Thornton. The buzz it generates among students radiates beyond fourth period creative writing and into the hallways and other classrooms. Also, AfA has been instrumental in helping to create a culture of creative expression at NAS through its support of our performance events. The light, joy, and art that AfA brought into our school this year has been immeasurably impactful on our students and on our school community.

Running of the Gays: Hoofin’ it in Heels for LGBTQ Youth

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ROTG posterEvery year, before summer gives way to autumn, Art from Ashes, together with the entire community, holds its annual event, Running of the Gays (ROTG). ROTG is a three-block “marathon” in high heels to raise money for creative programs that support LGBTQ+ youth. This year, we will don our heels burdened with thoughts of tragedies like that at Pulse Nightclub, and our countries continued efforts to bury the rights of the queer community—a sobering reminder of the reason we’re running. 

LGBTQ+ youth face bigotry, discrimination and even hatred in their everyday lives. How we as choose to answer defines us; it sends a message to those who struggle because of their sexual identity, and it sends a message back to our community and world.

Here are some messages the world has sent us:

  • gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youth
  • 30% of all youth suicides are related to issues of sexual identity.
  • 45% of gays and 20% of lesbians have experienced verbal harassment and/or physical violence during school as a result of sexual orientation
  • 26% of gay and lesbian youth are forced to leave home because of conflicts with their families over sexual identity.

These statistics echo in the backs of our heads every year as we put on this event. At Art from Ashes, we believe that every person IS a creative genius, which means that the depths to a person’s inner-self is vaster and wider than judgments made by society. Running of the Gays is meant to be a campy celebration of individual expression, yet the implications still remain quite serious. The money raised during this event goes directly to support the programs that have been nourishing our community’s youth for 13 years.

Art from Ashes grows and flourishes when it is part of a larger discussion. So talk to us. Join the conversation. AfA believes that telling all youth, and particularly those struggling with abuse, bullying, despair and homelessness that they matter and that they are loved is one of the most important messages we can send. But we need the feedback and support of the community for that message to be heard. Express how you feel, connect yourself with the community as we strive to do, and let’s transform together.

Register for this year’s Running of the Gays here

Donate to this year’s Running of the Gays here

A Facilitator’s Karmic Transformation

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MJI found Art from Ashes when I was in a very dark place. I was undergoing my own personal transformation and felt like I had to do something outside of myself to keep moving forward. My application to volunteer with AfA was a blind attempt at paying back the karmic debt I felt I’d accrued. Little did I know how serendipitous that decision would prove to be.

I expressed my interest in facilitating in the Phoenix Rising program immediately. I’ve always loved language and believed in its power. I wanted to do whatever I could to help others realize that rock bottom is a great place to transform your life. I participated in the adult workshop and absolutely loved it. I found clarity and peace surrounding issues that once tormented me. I live my life differently today because of that workshop. My story is MINE. This knowledge is empowering. I feel no pressure to create a story that will impress you or anyone else, because I now know that my truth has nothing to do with someone else’s view of the world.

After the conclusion of the adult workshop, I began my journey as a co-facilitator. My first workshops were in a charter school in downtown Denver. The youth showed me honesty and courage. As a facilitator, I created the space, and in return, the youth gave me the gift of their stories. That’s the stuff that sustains and excites me. It’s hard to describe the magic that takes place when young people feel safe enough to connect and express themselves. The curriculum is brilliant, and each young person makes it their own. I am forever touched by the words shared in the workshops I’ve been a part of.

I love my life today. I love AfA and the open arms they showed me when I was broken. I personally experienced the expression, connection and transformation this organization fosters. I am so incredibly blessed to approach every workshop, drop-in and event as an opportunity to give back what was so freely given to me.

– MJ Smart, Art from Ashes Facilitator