My art teachers nurtured my creativity, they taught me how to express myself, pushed me to be an individual, and taught me the importance of art in this world. Art can help with social emotional well being, it can give those that don’t feel they have a voice, a way to speak out, it builds cognitive development, and builds individuality. Because of the impact my teachers had on me, I wanted to share that experience with my students.

I spent a year teaching my students about Ancient Art. We started with exploring the Lascaux Cave paintings by creating a cave in my classroom, and students used fake torches to see while they finger painted inside. They went on to learn Cuneiform, created mummies, mythological creatures, and Japanese printmaking. When we got to mosaics we worked with the We All Live Here movement to create a mural in the Fulton Market of Chicago. Now the city has a constant reminder of diversity made by my kids

I have been trying to go to Japan for a month to learn Manga to teach a future Manga class at my school. I would also like to go to Paris in the future to see the Louvre, no art teacher should miss this experience. In my free time I create events focused around body positivity, diversity, helping local organizations, and embracing different subcultures. This money could really help buy the tools I need for that to succeed, such as renting a space, buying media supplies, and a new computer.