Hi everyone!

The Newark Arts Alliance has become one of the central anchors in my life. It’s where I found an open mic community that welcomed my own voice — not just as an organizer, but as a participant — and that sense of belonging has mattered more than I expected. I get to work alongside remarkable creative minds every day: artists, writers, performers, and the many people who simply love the arts and show up to support them. In the same week, I might be surrounded by a poem that brings me to tears, careful craftsmanship, strangers who have become collaborators, live music,  visual art in every medium you can imagine - I am continually amazed by what people create when they feel encouraged! The organization has also given me a place to grow professionally: I’ve sharpened my leadership skills, learned nonprofit strategy in real time, and, to my genuine delight, found practical uses for my affection for spreadsheets and systems. I’ve made real friends here and built community in a very tangible way. I still haven’t quite solved the mystery of keeping my email inbox under control — but like everything else in this work, I’m learning as I go 😊

The community arts have always shaped my life. Singing in a community choir as a child introduced me to the freedom that came from using my voice. Studying photography in high school with community teaching artists introduced me to the power of using my own vision. Drum circles in college introduced me to the healing capacity of music, which led me right into the arms of music therapy (yep, I'm still a music therapist today!). The list goes on and on. There is no chapter of my life that hasn't been made richer and more meaningful because of places like the Newark Arts Alliance.

Participation in the community arts doesn't just improve our mental health, social connection and sense of purpose and meaning. It gives us an avenue to express our VALUES and create inroads for change. In today's world, we must hold onto hope in every form we can find it. And the community arts fill me with hope!

Consider this your invitation to dive more deeply into your own creative expression, and into the expressions of the people around you. Listen, reflect, ask questions. We are all in this together ✨

Special shout out to the NAA's Board of Directors: each of you bring something unique and needed to the table and together, we are keeping the engine running! Thank you all for believing in what we are building and for showing up, again and again and again. Much love to you all!