TOP 50 IN THE COUNTRY!

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In February, AfA applied for the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, and once again we have been recognized as having one of the top 50 youth arts programs in the country. More info here: www.artfromashes.org/about/community-awards-and-honors.

The NAHYP is a program of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities™—in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services™—to showcase cultural excellence and enhance the availability of out-of-school arts and humanities programs to children and young people.

Since AfA has consistently been recognized by this prestigious organization, we received a letter from the National Endowment for the Humanities encouraging us to apply for their Challenge Grant. After several conversations with the federal agency and over 100 hours of work on behalf of several members of the grant team, we applied for a two-year federal grant in May.

2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award Finalists Announced

All Sacred Tattoos and Poetry!

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Artists and creatives disrupting the tattoo industry!

Committed to community betterment, All Sacred Foundation artists “tattoo with heart.” At a quarterly event, All Sacred Foundation provides tattoos to the public and donates all proceeds to three area nonprofits, including Art from Ashes!

There’s also a party. And youth poets. So get your tat on and support the youth!

Here we go Denver! This event is going to be amazing! We’re so excited that this many amazing artists will be joining us, and some spectacular guests from out of town as well! Please come for a day of art, music, photography, henna, poetry, and all the great things our events deliver for the community!

Stay tuned for the link to make appointments, or go to their Facebook page and ask!

Rockies-Fireworks

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ROCKIES VS DODGERS FIREWORKS GAME! MUST BUY THIS WEEKEND!

Every year Art from Ashes sells Rockies tickets to support community engagement with our youth. This year it’s the Rockies v. Dodgers! One of the more dramatic rivalries right now in the National League! So there will be fireworks… and there will be FIREWORKS! Yup, the September 29th game includes a fireworks show!
 
You can buy prime seats right down the first base line in Section 117, Rows 26-31 (check out the seats here). BUT YOU ONLY HAVE THROUGH SUNDAY SEPT 17TH TO DO IT!
 
Tickets are sold at the regular price of $40, but through us, you’ll save the $9 Ticketmaster fee! (We are asking if people would be willing to select the option of paying our $2 PayPal fee, if you would.) That $7 to $9 difference will buy you a footlong Bratwurst at $6.75, so we’re basically buying you food, too!

Contact us at 303.837.1550 to arrange for payment or purchase below using PayPal.

Join us at Coors Field on the 29th for the bang of the bats and the boom of the fireworks!

If you can’t go or … *gulp* don’t like baseball, please consider purchasing a ticket for a youth who may never have had the opportunity to see a live game.


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How many are for our youth?



Recover Your Creative Genius Gala

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On June 9 Art from Ashes, guest artists, and more than 50 supportive donors gathered at the Grant-Humphreys Mansion in Denver to celebrate the importance of creativity in substance-abuse prevention and recovery.

The gala fundraiser, Recover Your Creative Genius, grew out of AfA’s success working addiction and substance abuse prevention and intervention. It was organized in large part by Liz Kane of Centennial Peaks Hospital, Rourke Weaver of Red Rock Recovery Center, with support from Wesley Hooks of Sandstone Care. Many of the young people we serve have been affected by substance abuse, and our youth empowerment programs demonstrate the importance of creative expression for personal transformation.

Keynote speaker Austin Eubanks spoke about his journey from Columbine survivor through addiction to his current work as an addiction expert. Guest artists Sur Ellz and Kid Astronavt joined AfA youth poet Savannah Ray Arterburn to provide an incredibly moving performance. Boss Sauce provided appetizers and a lavish three-course meal, and AfA board members, volunteers and staff contributed wine.

AfA Board President Lewis Lease and Executive Director Catherine O’Neill Thorn discussed the importance of AfA in our community and also thanked the attendees for supporting our programs with their generosity.

Corporate sponsors included Centennial Peaks Hospital, Red Rock Recovery Center, Sandstone Care, The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake, Dominion Diagnostics, and True Value of Woodville.

Young AmeriTowne

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On May 23, Art from Ashes was one of six charities chosen by the Young AmeriTowne youth board members to receive a donation at a lovely ceremony at Young American’s Bank in Lakewood. Over the course of the year, everyone was invited to donate personal funds or business profits at the donation station. The Community First Foundation agreed to match $.10 to each AmeriTowne dollar donated. We are especially grateful to the incredible youth from Young AmeriTowne for choosing our organization!

Young AmeriTowne is an organization that offers teachers of 4th and 5th graders a program that helps students learn about business, economics, and free enterprise. Every year they choose six new charities to receive AmeriTowne dollars, a play currency used to represent real money. Young AmeriTowne has over 11,000 youth participating at the Belmar location and over 25,000 students overall in their flagship program.

Noon Whistle Fund provides a much-needed breath of fresh air

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We are incredibly excited to announce that we have received a significant donation from the Noon Whistle Fund! The Noon Whistle Fund is a family foundation whose members came all the way from Chicago this month to visit our office here in Denver. We ran through our Love Synesthesia prompt together, showing them how transformative our curriculum is for young people. Not only did they provide us with our requested amount, but they informed us a few days after their visit that they were so impressed with our program, they would be increasing it by 72% to provide additional staff support!

The Noon Whistle created their donor-advised fund in order to give back to many communities, wherever they may be. They do not have a website and don’t want to provide any contact information. The family members who comprise the foundation are kind and caring people, and we are so very thankful for their generosity. Because of support like this, we can all breathe more deeply, the load a little lighter.

Adult Workshop Poem-Ginny Threefoot

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A What-the-Workshop-Was-Like-for-Me Collage

1.
Every meeting was a gift –
presents of words and gifts of presence.
A multiplicity of selves, each with her voice.
The beauty of listening.

2.
My heart wants to know if we are on speaking terms.
I say to my heart: we are birds of a feather. We depend on each other.
I taught my heart how to lay down a stone.

3.
The Art and Power of Story Making:
It’s time you spoke….
Lost in the art of words, I am found.
I am now free to look within for answers.
I compose myself.
(Homewords lead me homeward.)

4.
Three Minute Gifts
The minutes pass without my counting them.
I am, I am, I am….
I am one who studies shadows, wondering.
I am free to hear god humming in the leaves,
to laugh and laugh.

5.
Minor (life-saving) surgery: Left-brain Bypass

6.
Transformations/Alchemy
What is near can be seen anew.
What is far can be called upon.
Burdens into offerings. Curses into blessings.
Fears into kindnesses.
Here is this day. Here is this gift.
Here is my gratitude.

First Friday youth performance

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Join us this First Friday, June 2 for youth performances and a Bake Sale. The youth will be performing at our new location just off the 10th and Osage light rail station between 6.30 and 7.30 pm. Come as early as 6 pm to purchase baked goods that have been lovingly prepared by AfA staff and volunteers. All of the profits will go to Art from Ashes youth performers!

For those who are donating their yummy baked goods; please be sure to individually wrap each item, and mark them with possible allergens so everyone can enjoy our bake sale! All baked goods should be brought to the Art from Ashes office from Wednesday May 31 to Friday June 2 during regular office hours, and no later than 5:30 pm on Friday.

If you’d like to let us know you’re going to stop by, check out our Facebook event.

Stay tuned for more exciting events at AfA on First Fridays, including our upcoming Transform Your Stuff Sale (okay, it’s a yard sale) and the August Awesome Bazaar!

Contact MJ Smart, Director of Programs at Art from Ashes, below for more information or to get involved.

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First Friday youth performance

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Kayla Marque, July First Friday featured poet

Join us every First Friday for youth spoken word performances at the Art from Ashes new location just off the 10th and Osage light rail station between 6.30 and 7.30 pm.

Stop by in support of our community’s young people who participate in our Phoenix Rising youth empowerment program. Listen as they pour our their hearts and tell their stories in metaphor through poems written in 3-minutes.

Our wonderful guest performance artist this month is Kayla Marque!

ADDITIONALLY, this month we’re having a Rumble in the Jumble Rummage Sale! for more info, check out our Facebook event.

Visit our new space on the corner of 10th and Navajo on your way to the Art District on Santa Fe!

Much more than a public performance, youth gather at Art from Ashes at 4.30 for a FREE one-hour Phoenix Rising writing wordshop, followed at 5.30 by a FREE 45-minute performance workshop, featuring a local performance poet. All youth are welcome; pizza provided.

Contact MJ Smart, Director of Programs at Art from Ashes, for more information.

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