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. 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 I reflect on my time so far as the Summer Projects Coordinator at ArtMix, I am in awe of how much I’ve accomplished and learned in only three weeks. My first couple of assignments were fairly simple, like look around the Harrison Center (which is where ArtMix is located), familiarize myself with the website, read last year’s end of the year financial report, and memorize the mission statement: ArtMix transforms the lives of people with disabilities through the creation of art. I quickly learned that ArtMix is all about inclusion, not just in their programs, but on the administration side too. The moment I walked into the office I felt like I was a part of the team. They value my ideas and ask for my opinions. My co-workers believing in me, gave me the confidence I needed to jump right into the projects they had come up with […]