Creativity Can Be a Lifeline—Help Children Access It

Dear Friend,

Art was a lifeline for me throughout my childhood. I remember the tension in my childhood home due to financial hardships, addiction, and the stress of my parents' adult responsibilities. Even without understanding the source of the stress, I felt its weight; I was overwhelmed by it. Research has shown the impact of family stress such as poverty and housing insecurity, on children's mental health. The Impact of Family Stress and Resilience on Child Development: A Scoping Review

Turning to art activities like creative writing, ceramics, and school and church choir became my way to cope and to imagine of a better future for me and my family. Posttraumatic Growth Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: “My Creative Arts Teacher Got Me Through It”.

My personal journey shows the transformative power of creative expression and the arts. Art influenced my education and career, leading me to work in nonprofit arts and serve on boards of arts organizations such as drawchange, so I could help children facing similar adversities find a way to express their creativity.

Children facing housing insecurity, as many of the children drawchange serves, often feel overwhelmed and look for ways to cope with their unpredictable situations. This is where drawchange plays a vital role. For our children, art provides a space for self-expression, creativity, and stress relief. Through our programming, children can safely express and process emotions they may not have words for. They find community in collaborating with other children and imagine possibilities beyond their current situation. For a child whose life is marked by uncertainties and stress that they cannot change, creative expression isn't just play—it's an anchor of stability and comfort.

Join me in supporting real change! Your support for drawchange will help children develop confidence and resilience by providing opportunities to boost their self-esteem and manage stress through art.

A donation of $50, $100, $200, or whatever feels right to you, will help us provide art supplies and emotional support to our children and empower them to draw the change they want to see in their lives.

In art and service,
JoJasmin "Jo" López
chair | board of directors

P.S. Watch this video of our founder & CEO Jennie Lobato, L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth 2022 Honoree. Hear her story and the impact drawchange is making.