Every Monday I go into the ArtMix office, a bit sluggish, generally yawning, and almost always about 10 minutes later than I had planned. (I still haven’t mastered the sleep schedule adjustment from weekends to weeknights.) I sit down at my desk, sometimes forgetting to turn on the lights overhead, and look at my to-do list for the week. Many of my tasks start with the word “Create.” I find that very fitting considering the work we do at ArtMix, where we transform the lives of people with disabilities through the creation of art.

Urban Artisans working hard on their unique creations.

The definition of create is “to bring [something] into existence;” or “to cause [something] to happen as a result of one’s actions.” Anyone can create. I create things on a daily basis, and most other people do too. But I’ve started asking myself, what is the purpose for the things I create? What am I hoping happens as a result of my creations? The answers will vary from task to task, yet I think there should always be an overarching answer to these questions. For example, I create a flyer for an event we are hosting. Purpose: to spread the word and increase attendance. But what is my motivation behind doing that? Why do I want to have high attendance at our event?

These questions seem a little silly. Who wouldn’t want to have high attendance for an event they’re planning? The emphasis of these questions, however, is self. What is my purpose in doing these things? Why do I want this to be successful? I’ve realized that my answer to these questions stems from a place of passion, and though the question is focused on self, my answer is not. My passion at ArtMix is for the people we serve. I’ve met just a handful of the people we work with, yet I feel a sense of connection to all the people we are serving.

I recently heard a talk where the speaker discussed love. He got me thinking, how do we show love through our work? How do I make sure my work reflects the passion that I have? I don’t know if I have the answer to that, but I’ve started recognizing the passion behind my work. I know that my love and passion are motivating my actions, and I can only hope that those are visible in the outcomes of my work.

As I reflect on these questions, I think about an event that we recently hosted. On Wednesday, July 20th ArtMix hosted the Arts for All Fest. The purpose of the event is to bring community members together to see the opportunities offered by ArtMix and other community partners. Because ArtMix is an arts organization working with people with disabilities, our community partners were a mix of arts organizations and disability services. The Arts for All Fest was free and open to the public. People of all ages and abilities were welcome to come see the adaptive ArtMix studios, the ArtMix Gallery, and participate in fun art activities. To the right is a flyer that I created for the event.

The event was very successful! I know the hard work that went into planning the event, and I think our work really showed through the success we had. Each of our community partners had an activity for attendees to participate in. There are some photos to help describe what some of these were.

“What is one thing you would do as Governor?” Participants share what they would do if they were governor.

“Send a postcard to your representative.” Participants made a collage postcards to be sent to their representatives.

To the left is the photo of the postcards. Many of the postcards were about the importance of art. Some may not have words, but the creativity displayed through the collages show the things the participants care about. I’ve learned that art and creativity are very personal things, and in order to create art one must be vulnerable. I think you can learn a lot about a person by the things they create and how they express themselves.

My favorite is the picture to the right. The “If I were Governor…” scroll. If you look closely you can read some of the things people wrote. The list includes raising minimum wage, helping the poor, creating gun control laws, building homes for the homeless, giving free passes to the zoo, having a free ice cream day, giving everyone a trampoline, and making the world a better place. It’s clear that most of these were written by children, when you look at the handwriting and misspellings. But I find it inspiring to see what kids care about. I am impressed with the amount of awareness some children have. Many of the more controversial or politicized issues looked like they were written by children. It gives me hope that these children will grow up to make the world a better place, using their passions to drive them to create things for the betterment of all.

I challenge anyone reading this to think about the things you’re passionate about. What would have written down on that scroll? What is it that motivates the work you do? And how do you show your passion in your work?

“It’s a new challenge to see how people can change your look. I like words like transformation, reinvention, and chameleon. Because one word I don’t like is predictable.” ~Naomi Campbell

Outside of the deportation staging center at Broadview, IL

People have changed my “look” or outlook during my time with the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants. Each day the volunteers, the staff members, and the people that ICDI ministers to have given me a chance to learn more about the immigration system and the work of ministry. Fridays with the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants have been especially transformational. They have also been some of the most difficult days of the work week for me. However, it is not for the reasons one might typically think of. Fridays are not difficult because I have to get up early. Fridays are not difficult because it is the last day of the work week. Fridays are not difficult because I am anxiously awaiting for the weekend. Each Friday is difficult because of the loss and heartbreak that is so prevalent in the morning of this day each week.

Every Friday morning, the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants goes to the deportation staging center in Broadview, Illinois for a prayer vigil. The staff and volunteers of ICDI stand in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters and accompany families that are about to say goodbye to loved ones leaving the country. The ministry is difficult. I find myself desperately trying to grasp for words that could fix the heartbreak. However, every week, I find myself at a loss for words. “I’m sorry,” does not take away the pain of losing a father, a husband, a brother, a mother, a wife, or a sister. My words do not wipe away the tears streaming down the faces of the little children or parents or siblings.

Inspirational quote found in a Chicago park

However, amidst the heartbreak, I do see hope on these Fridays as well. Everyone that attends the prayer vigil always is transformed. Volunteers, pastors, priests, nuns, imams, rabbis, and laypeople stand with these men, women, and children. They stand with these families. They hear their cries and they hold them in their hearts. The encounter with our immigrant brothers and sisters leaves everyone with questions and a new perspectives on compassionate immigration reform. People go forth with new thoughts in mind. They cannot forget the cries or the faces or the names of the people impacted. Their perspective or “look” on the topic of immigration is always touched in some way. They seek positive change in the immigration system. And in this time of trial, the families affected every Friday are reminded that they are loved, being prayed for, and not forgotten.

A vegetable garden created during my time with ICDI at the House of Hospitality

On these Fridays, I also see hope at ICDI’s House of Hospitality in Hyde Park, Illinois. After the prayer vigil on Friday mornings, I travel to I spend the rest of my day at this house for teens, women, and their children who have been released from detention. I see hope in this place… a hope for a positive outcome not just the people residing in the home, but a hope without bars that could be a reality for all of our immigrant brothers and sisters. My interactions with the mothers, teens, and children bring moments of pure joy. I have loved getting to know all of the beautiful people and hear their stories. Each week has been filled with amazing memories I will not forget.

A couple of weeks ago at the House of Hospitality, I was playing with some of the little kids, and a little girl decided that she wanted to play with some face paint. She asked me if I could paint her to look like a cat. I happily agreed. After many giggles from being tickled by the paint, the little girl decided that she was happy with her friendly feline face mask. She then turned to me and said that she wanted to turn me into a butterfly. I saw how excited she was and agreed to let her transform me. After many minutes of focused artistry, I was transformed into a butterfly. With giggles of glee, the little girl exclaimed, “Go and check out your new look!”

As I stood and looked in a mirror and admired the artwork painted on my face, the little girl’s words rang in my ears. She had indeed transformed my look. Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. My “look”… my perspective about ministry, hospitality, immigration, and so much more, has been impacted by this little girl. However, she has not been the only one that had participated in my transformation. My “look” has been impacted by the men and women in detention that I talked with twice a week. My “look” has been impacted by the families I encountered Friday mornings. My “look” has been impacted by the volunteers and staff of ICDI. My “look” has been affected

Cat and Butterfly facepaint

by the tears I’ve seen in the eyes of many people, including my own. And as I look forward, I hope that this “look” will affect me in a way that can create a positive change in this world. I look forward with hope and determination for compassion and change. I hope that I can lead in a way that gives others an opportunity to look through the eyes of others and treat everyone with dignity. And I hope to serve in a way that brings people together.

It has definitely been a challenge to see how people have changed my look. I cannot thank the Institute for Leadership and Service and the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants enough for giving me the chance to experience such incredible work for the summer. These lessons, tears, laughs, prayers, and memories will not be forgotten.