Causes to Celebrate: Chelsea's Charity

I featured Chelsea Phaire during Black History Month reading Nikki Giovanni's "BLK History Month." In finding her video, I also found out that she has created a charity called Chelsea's Charity that creates and gives art kits to all different kinds of causes--from art classes in schools to veterans from veteran's aid groups and hospitals.  She's even looking to expand her work to children and causes around the world, currently working to send kits to Haiti.

It all started when she asked guests to her birthday party to donate art supplies for those in need of them rather than bringing gifts, and thus began this wonderful journey to help bring art to communities in need.  To Chelsea art is a way of healing and bringing people together; it's a way to express ourselves, and it gives us a sense of accomplishment when we complete our creative endeavors.  And I believe she's right.  But often not having materials to create art can stifle that means of self-expression; and so, she is looking to make sure that these materials are available for those in need of them.  How cool is that?

With my own birthday coming up, I find it compelling that this young woman has chosen to create a whole charity from an idea that started on her birthday.  While I don't think I'll be starting any charities on my birthday (at least not this year,) being able to share and celebrate in Chelsea's work is something I want to do.  And that is why I chose to feature her this month.

There are some quotes that she placed on her charity page that I really love:

“Art Should Be Available For Everyone!"- Chelsea's Charity 

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." - Pablo Picasso

"I dream my painting and I paint my dream." -Vincent Willem van Gogh 

Please consider checking out her charity page and passing this message on to teachers or groups that might benefit from something like this.

Art really can be a powerful tool for healing.  My own step-dad spent a lot of time working through some of the effects of the Vietnam War where he served as a Marine with art, and I can't wait to share with you some of his work in a future month.  I have never asked if it helped him, but I do believe that it allowed him to find some truths and some healing for the things he saw and experienced during wartime.  I believe it changed him in a profound way, and while it's harder for him to do art these days as he's older and his hands aren't as steady nor do they work as easily as they once did, he still does a Christmas card each year which my family sends out to our friends and family to celebrate the season.

So I have seen in my own life the power of art, and I believe it is a cause worth celebrating.