Its now been over 20+ years since I became a volunteer teaching artist for at risk youth, writing curriculum and volunteering in NY, Brooklyn, DC, Philly, Baltimore, LA, San Fran, and Miami etc... My in-the-classroom experiences came to a halt when I became chronically ill after 3 months of
exposure to the 911WTC toxic dust that effected my kidney, liver, immune system and lungs. I had to stop working and volunteering and now have a 4 hour daily medical treatment routine that keeps me functional, and in 2006 when I began staying in Miami for medical reasons, I felt like my life's volunteer work of being a teaching artist was over... Then, even though it was from my bed at home with my computer, I found a new way to help the kids - by sharing my art integration curriculums and using my "good days" to train other teaching artists who are now the ones running and providing programs to the kids in the Art Studio's current programs. We have been joined by so many amazing people of integrity and dedication that my life's work lives on through those who are able to teach using the arts as learning tools and provide our Healing LIFE ARTS to so many youth, who would other wise fall through the cracks created by poverty... instead our Art Studio youth are on a cradle to career path using Creative-Holstic Art Integration to do this... ("C.H.A.I." LIFE ARTS) ... Sometime my treatment schedule and ill health relapses take over, and I go long periods of time not being able to visit the Art Studio team or see the kids... but I know Art Studio is in good hands, the kids have excellent role models and it is all thanks to an amazing team of Teaching Artists and Volunteers... I especially want to thank Ms Soralee Ayvar and Ms Lisa Pike for their years of dedication. I want to thank all the hundreds of consistent volunteers who have made Art Studio what is it today - serving 200-300 youth in need per year. You are all a blessing and I am so proud to be apart of an organization that has grown and been able to help so many.
