Art Buddy Spotlight: Karisa Buechner, Mentor/Advisory Board Member

Karisa Buechner is a Digital Account Executive for Prime Therapeutics and has been an Art Buddy for 9 semesters. Not only does Karisa serve as a mentor, she is also an active member of the Art Buddies Advisory Board and Events Committee, and enjoys volunteering to help organize supplies before sessions begin and undertaking other fundraising duties as needed.


How would you describe Art Buddies?
Art Buddies is a mentor program that encourages kids to push their creativity to the limit. The task is simple enough, build a costume based on a theme. The end result is anything but simple. The kids create elaborate and beautiful costumes using duct tape, cardboard, plastic pieces, shiny and other stuff. It does help that lots of the mentors have creative talents! What happens in the process of creating the costume is the wonderful part of the program.

As you work with the kids, you learn about what is important to them, you share what you know about things and you collaborate on the creation that is to be. Working on the costume together allows you to have a common ground for discussion, no matter your buddy's personality. The project is yours, together.

I could always tell by the end of an Art Buddies session that my buddy had a great time, and genuinely enjoyed the whole experience. Even if they were shy, the card I received at the end showed that they loved the program.

Why did you decide to become active with Art Buddies?
I have always thought of myself as a creative person, but after college I was not working in a creative field. I needed an outlet for creativity, and I really enjoy working with kids. I began looking for a way to give back to my community through creative volunteer work. I found Art Buddies online, and noted that it was close to my then home, near Whittier school. The rest is history. I try to volunteer as much as I can.

What advice would you give to rookie Art Buddies?
Listen to your buddy. Really listen to your buddy, and incorporate their ideas. Sometimes it is hard to accept that your buddy just wants to use that tiny piece of cardboard with a button on it for their hat, instead of a top hat made out of feathers. The kids are the reason we are there.

Define what 1-on-1 mentoring means to you and how it impacts the lives of children.
I think 1-on-1 mentoring means being able to focus on your mentee in a way that you could not in a group. You have the time to really talk and listen to your buddy. I think that it makes kids feel special, and for kids with siblings or parents who don't have time to give them one-on-one time, it can have an even greater impact. Letting kids know they are special and have the potential to accomplish things builds confidence and encourages them to keep going.

Have you gained new friendships or expanded your network with adult Art Buddies?
Yes. I'm very happy to say I have made a few friendships in volunteering with Art Buddies. I have met some very inspiring creative individuals and just great people all around.

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.

Celebrating 20 Years of Art Buddies: Seeking Student Alumni

Are you or someone you know a past Art Buddies student?

If so, please take a minute to complete our Art Buddies Alumni Form through SurveyMonkey.

In 1994, former Art Director Sue Crolick founded Creatives for Causes, a non-profit organization aimed at engaging the creative community to support local causes. From that effort, Art Buddies was born.

Twenty years later, Art Buddies is still going strong, and has inspired the lives of thousands of children and volunteers alike, through the power of one-on-one creative mentoring. And in 2015, we're aiming to continue the growth of Art Buddies by expanding to our first school in St. Paul.

To help us celebrate our 20th year, we're on a mission to reconnect with past Art Buddies students who have graduated or are approaching graduation. Many past students likely have careers and families of their own now, with inspiring stories to share about how Art Buddies inspired their lives.

Contact us to learn more and help celebrate 20 years of creativity!

Art Buddy Spotlight: Dayna Goebel, Mentor

Our creative mentors are the heart of Art Buddies. And today, our hearts are heavy from the loss of one amazing mentor, Dayna Goebel (Brown).

Dayna joined Art Buddies in 2012 and mentored for four seasons. What some didn't know was that Dayna was also fighting pancreatic cancer and came to Art Buddies as a 2.5 hour escape from what she called her "Cancer Circus." She wanted to focus her energy in a positive way, to inspire a child's creative spirit, and Art Buddies was the perfect fit.

What Dayna didn't know was how many others she would inspire with her creativity and amazing outlook on life -- grateful for every moment, and living each day to the fullest.

For anyone who followed her journey and often humorous commentary on CaringBridge, they know her mantra -- SMILE TODAY -- and that she would close every entry with three things she loved about that day.

So in honor and memory of the amazing Dayna, here are three things Art Buddies loved about you:

- Your positive energy that saw the silver lining in the darkest cloud, and helped others do the same.
- Your idea to give Art Buddies kids a "challenge item" to further spark their imagination.
- The gift of hope and happiness you gave to everyone who knew you.

In loving memory of Dayna, smile today!

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.

From 'The Importance of The Creative Arts for Children and Teens'

This inspiring article from Parenting Today from Child Development Institute reinforces the important work of Art Buddies, and the real impact our creative mentors have on the kids we serve.

The article states, in a ten-year national study by Shirley Brice Heath of Stanford University, it was discovered that young people who are involved in highly effective non-school arts-based community programs in under-resourced communities, in comparison with a national sample of students were:

• 4x more likely to win an academic award, such as being on the honor roll.
• 8x times more likely to receive a community service award.
• 3x more likely to win a school attendance award.
• 4x more likely to participate in a math or science fair.
• Likely to score higher on their SAT college admission test scores if they have been involved for more than four years of after-school arts study.

Read more: http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/learning/multiple_intelligences/the-importance-of-the-creative-arts-for-children-and-teens/#ixzz39SGawmQn

Art Buddies accepts mentor applications ever fall and spring. Learn how you can volunteer with Art Buddies at http://www.artbuddies.org/volunteer/.