Letter From The Executive Director: August

One conversation at Arts & Jazz stopped me in my tracks. 

It wasn't with one of our sponsors. It wasn't with one of our artists. It was with a mother who quietly reminded me why We Care Arts exists. 

Along the way, I watched old friends reconnect, new friendships begin, and more than 250 people experience what our community is really all about. 

So, have you ever walked into an event expecting to stay for just a few minutes and then found yourself lingering because it simply felt good to be there? That was this year's 3rd Annual Arts & Jazz Festival. 

More than 250 people joined us this year, more than doubling last year's attendance. But what stood out wasn't the number of guests. It was what happened after they arrived. People didn't rush in and rush out. They stayed. They talked. They laughed. They wandered through the art booths, enjoyed incredible jazz, shared great food, and simply spent time together. 

To me, that was the real success of the day. 

One of our newest sponsors, Mark Kottman of Howard Hanna,  attended after getting to know Kelly, our Director of Community Engagement, through their local BNI chapter. Later, Kelly shared that he told her he was blown away. He believed in what We Care Arts was doing but experiencing it firsthand was something entirely different. Watching hundreds of people gather to celebrate art, jazz, and community showed him the heart of our mission in a way that words never could. 

Throughout the afternoon, I found myself smiling over and over again. 

I watched two different groups of people unexpectedly reconnect. One group had worked together years ago. Another had gone to school together. They were genuinely excited to discover they had all become advocates for We Care Arts and shared a passion for our mission of empowering healing through art and community. 

Then, just as the afternoon was winding down, came the conversation I'll remember long after the last note of jazz had faded. 

I stopped to visit with the mother of one of our artist-clients. Her daughter is wonderfully creative and always has a story to tell. Recently, she made a new friend during class and was even considering joining our Optimist Club after being invited by her new friend. 

I asked her mom if she had met this special new friend yet. She smiled and said she hadn't, but she was looking forward to it. Then she reached over, gently touched my arm, and simply said how grateful she was for We Care Arts. She thanked me for the caring, talented staff who create such a safe, welcoming place for her daughter and for every artist-client who walks through our doors. 

That moment has stayed with me. 

Every day we witness creativity. Every day we see confidence grow. Every day we watch friendships begin. 

But sometimes we're given the gift of seeing our impact through someone else's eyes. 

What we build together doesn't end when class is over. It ripples into families. Into friendships. Into neighborhoods. Into a stronger, healthier community where people know they belong. That kind of community doesn't happen by accident. It happens because people like you choose to invest in it. 

Whether it's attending an event, volunteering, making a one-time gift, or becoming one of our monthly donors, every act of generosity helps ensure that tomorrow another artist-client finds a friend, another parent finds peace of mind, and another family discovers they are not alone. 

As summer begins to wind down, we'll be inviting our community to celebrate the power of coming together in a special way. I can't wait to share more with you. 

As I watched the music fade and people begin heading home, I couldn't stop thinking about that mother's quiet "thank you." That thank you wasn't really meant for me. It belonged to every volunteer, every donor, every sponsor, every monthly giver, every staff member, and every advocate who helps make We Care Arts possible. That thank you belongs to YOU! Because when you invest in We Care Arts, you're not just supporting art classes. 

You're helping someone find a friend. 

 You're giving a parent peace of mind. 

     You're building the kind of community where everyone belongs. 

Thank you for standing alongside We Care Arts and helping create a community where we all have the opportunity to belong. 

Until next month keep creating, keep celebrating the connections that bring our communities together during 
this very special 250th summer, and remember that the most beautiful masterpieces are the ones we create together.