Meet Our Team

Greetings Work of Art Family and Community,

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The past five years have brought many uncertainties amongst our community and the world; however maintaining the tenacious spirit of our youth is always in the forefront of my mind. Being able to shape the lives of so many young girls is very important and is the foundation of the work that we do. They rely on us to set an example of advocacy and leadership. This responsibility was more important than ever during unprecedented times involving Covid-19, when news coverage and social media shed a light on the inequities and racial disparities that have existed in our world for years. 

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Work of Art constantly creates a safe space for Black and Brown girls to have their voices heard, a place to maintain a sense of community and curate memorable experiences. Our bi-weekly workshops allow us to discuss delicate topics such as self-care including a skincare workshop, Black healthcare and feminine hygiene facilitated by Terri Page, NP, self-confidence vs. self-worth, public speaking, ways to reduce stress and anxiety, and tough discussions on racism and the unfair treatment of Black Americans in our world. 

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We also emerge our girls in experiences to extend beyond their homes and communities such as college tours, dance workshops, hiking and other team building opportunities.  This year alone we have volunteered at Doorways, at Evergreen Cemetery and raised over $500 and walked in support of those fighting for their lives with the American Breast Cancer Society. We could not have accomplished this without our amazing board, supportive parents, dedicated mentors, and, of course, our resilient girls. 

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This year we have fully maintained our vision, mission, and yearly program goals by supporting our girls, their families, and their mentors to ensure that each one of our Work of Art participants reaches and maximizes their full potential. Our goals for the program year as follows: 

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By May 2025:

• 100% of our participants will be able to identify 3 coping strategies to support their social-emotional learning as addressed through at least one of the following: workshops, 1:1 mentorship, or individual mentorship.

• 80% of our participants will be able to identify post-secondary opportunities based on strengths and interests as characterized by assessments, job shadowing, college tours, and workshop experiences. 

• 100% of our participants will be promoted to the next grade level in support of on-time graduation.  The WOA community coordinator will rely on the following components to support this goal: quarterly report cards, 1:1 mentorship, self and parenting reporting. 

• 100% participants will volunteer once within the 2024-2025 school year.

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I vow to always be here to support and care for the children that we serve. The work that I do for our girls is beyond me, and I know that the passion that I have for Work of Art will continue to live on in the lives of each of the girls that we impact. The support and opportunity we provide is undoubtedly crucially important during these developmental stages of their lives. I stand in solidarity with our community in hopes that we can create a safe place where all of us can live and grow amongst one another in peace and love.

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Ms. LeKai Butler, 

Founder and Executive Director