Meet Our New Volunteer Coordinator, Megan!

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MeganFowlerArt 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

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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

Read more about and by Christy here:

Hunger Mountain and Rochester Magazine

ItsReaLight (Natasha Spence)

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

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!

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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.

Poets of Emily Griffith

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CPT at Emily Griffith

Click here for a video clip.

Art from Ashes has partnered with Colorado Public Television to provide Phoenix Rising wordshops for youth at the Emily Griffith Technical College. Below are some of the 3-minute poems produced and a couple of videos!

Rant, written April 6, 2015
by Walter, 18

From the time I could remember
I’ve wanted to die not because I was sad but because I’m tired of living
The one thing stopping me is the fact people will always need art
And the one reason I’m still here is a faulty round or bad firing pin
Or something told me or compelled me to puke up the pills I took
People make me sick honestly
I know firsthand with my brother raping and killing one of his own cousins
Or a father not calling me until I’m 14 to sell drugs for him
My art is not out of anger
But it is of the good in my life
And the good times
Honestly I’m not ready to die
But I’m sick of living

Walter-imageWithout Fear, written May 18, 2015
by Walter, 18

My life would be easier
I’d be able to wake up
And say I’m happy
How about yourself?
If I were given the chance
I’d always wake up fearless
With the ability to love my fellow man
And he would be able to say
I love this planet
And everything on it
Including you
It is a nice dream to keep

Video of Esther, 19

What I Would Say to You if Only You Would Listen
by Tamara, 20

I’m talking to the cord or am I really talking to myself
I feel empty my heart is out of beats
I fake my last breath of life and say
God forgive me for my sins
I’m not perfect, you know
Maybe it was the pain that made me come in rage
Where were you mom no one can explain
I still respect you and love you
Because in the end I am a product of you
But then again that’s not true
I’m Tamara let me say that again
I TJRS
I don’t drink because of you
All the time I got alcohol abused they wanted me
To follow your footsteps
But I refused to be something
That I could never even like
You hated me but I loved you
I know you were hurt
Has a kid who could ever know

Video of Darrian, 19

Affirmation Poem
by Lilly, 17

I love and approve of myself.
I accept the difference between us
Between you and me
And not only do I accept you
Most of all I accept me
I am the raging wind carrying the shadows over a raven’s wing
Never stopping to ask, just knowing that it is
I am the blood in your veins working you alive
Working us alive and you never give me a second thought
I know what I do is worth it
I know I matter
Without the sound on your tongue

FOR MORE VIDEOS OF THE YOUTH GO TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Thanks, El Pomar!

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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.21885_931979760180390_1634706419894800091_n

Grey Matter Supports AfA

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body-artJoin 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!

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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!

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Honoring Lalo Delgado and listening to Jimmy Santiago Baca.

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11013059_922477001130666_1869975359680278113_nHonoring Lalo Delgado and listening to Jimmy Santiago Baca.