News – Page 13 – Art from Ashes

Denver County Fair!

2015-08-12/in News/by AfAAdmin

Thankful Thursday: Power
by Drew Myron

“At what’s been dubbed the ‘craziest county fair in America,’ pies and pigs mix with zombies, drag queens, and crazy cats (Lil Bub!). In the whirl of all this, poetry sings. And as Director of Poetry (I love this title), I get to orchestrate all kinds of fun: a poetry contest, a poetry performance, and a poetry booth. Along with the contest, the Poetry Performance featured powerful readings by youth poets from Art from Ashes.

‘I’m a recovered addict,’ Tyler told the audience. ‘Poetry transformed my life.’

‘I just had my last day of chemo,’ announced Vaniesha. ‘Poetry gives me strength.’

Their words burned up the stage and ignited energy.”

Read more here by Drew Myron about AfA’s presentation at the Denver County Fair in July!

Meet Our New Volunteer Coordinator, Megan!

2015-07-08/in News/by AfAAdmin

Art from Ashes is happy to welcome Megan Fowler as our new Volunteer Coordinator! Megan has been involved with Art from Ashes for a long time as a volunteer, and we are very excited to have them in this new role.

Here is some more info about Megan:

Megan Fowler graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in Spring, 2015 with a double major in Psychology and Queer Studies.

Megan is currently working as the Volunteer and Events Coordinator for Art from Ashes and serves as the lead student for The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Student Services at Auraria.

Megan is currently working towards co-publishing an article focusing on non-monogamous communities as folklore. Ultimately, they want to earn their Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in order to conduct research focused on GLBTQIA communities and serve as a therapist specializing in these communities.

This has certainly been a time of much change and growth for the organization, and we are taking big steps in our effort to reach and impact as many young lives as possible behind our dedicated volunteers and staff.

Saying Goodbye

2015-07-01/in News/by AfAAdmin

Not only did Art from Ashes lose a wonderful youth poet when Jessie Hernandez was killed at the end of January, but we lost a former workshop facilitator when Christy Bailey succumbed in June to cancer after a long and fierce fight. In the same month, ItsReaLight (Natasha Spence), who motivated and inspired hundreds of youth poets by serving with our agency, passed from Lupus.

We remember them with love.

Christy Bailey

Click on the photo to read more about Christy.

Click here to attend Christy’s memorial service at Lighthouse Writers

Christy and former volunteer Lisa at Running of the Gays 2011

Christy and Lisa at Running of the Gays 2011

ItsReaLight (Natasha Spence)

Support ItsReaLight’s burial fund by clicking on her photo.

Listen to ItsReaLight’s words here:

2015 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award Finalist!

2015-05-21/in Award, Blog, News/by AfAAdmin

In May 2015, Art from Ashes received the following notification letter from President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and its partner agencies, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Congratulations! Your program’s work has been chosen for recognition as a 2015 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (NAHYP) Finalist by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and its partner agencies, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

We are highly impressed with the successful work your organization and the other Finalists have accomplished in youth after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities learning.

Your program’s selection as one of the 50 Finalists distinguishes it as one of the top arts- and humanities-based programs in the country.

Well-Being Across the Life Span

2015-05-15/in News/by AfAAdmin

I’m going to a free Well-Being conference & presenting on a panel on Working With Adolescents http://t.co/j3UANylz9x ‪#‎constantcontact‬

Thanks, El Pomar!

2015-05-13/in News/by AfAAdmin

Thank you so much to El Pomar Foundation for sending us this amazing young woman to help us run (and expand) our Phoenix Rising creative youth empowerment program and for supporting her salary!! You’ve made it possible for a small agency to hire a big talent! Ashley Cornelius rocks. And so does El Pomar.

Grey Matter Supports AfA

2015-05-07/in News/by AfAAdmin

Join us for a beautiful evening of awe-inspiring art and delicious all-you-can-eat eat sushi!

The event is May 9th from 9PM-1AM: all you can eat sushi for one is $50 or a for two people it is $100 plus a bottle of wine!

At 285 Landing, 3650 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80235

Art from Ashes has been chosen as at the nonprofit beneficiary of this event.

Anyone interested at reserving a table can contact Alexis!

Alexis Hollenback
Grey Matter Promotions
greymatterdenver@gmail.com
720-233-8989

Thanks, Rockies!

2015-04-25/in News/by AfAAdmin

Thank you so much to the Colorado Rockies Ball Club for gifting Art from Ashes with baseball tickets in a suite! We all decided we could get used to living like this!

Watch the Rockies play the Mets with Art from Ashes on Saturday, August 22, 2015. As a fundraiser and community builder for our youth, AfA is selling 100 Rockies tickets at face value. We have guaranteed seats in Section 112 (foul ball territory!), there’s a Star Wars parade on the field before the game, AND the first 10,000 fans get a free Star Wars Bobblehead doll!