Art Buddy Spotlight: Jesus Barrera, Student Alumnus, Monitor and Mentor

A wonderful story to help celebrate our 20th year that seems too perfect to believe...

At each Art Buddies program, we work with school staff to help monitor each session and fill in for missing volunteers when needed. Sometimes our school helpers volunteer themselves to be creative mentors as well.

For the past two seasons, Jesus Barrera has been our school staff assistant at Bancroft Elementary School, helping monitor Art Buddies sessions and even being a creative mentor for one child last fall.

What's even more special about Jesus is that he was actually an Art Buddy himself when he was a student at Whittier International Elementary School back in 1999-2000! After 15 years, we are so fortunate to have Jesus back working with us, and even volunteering as an Art Buddies mentor. What a wonderful way to celebrate turning 20!

Jesus Barrera with his Art Buddies mentor, Kyle Oglesby, at Whittier International Elementary School (spring 1999).

Jesus Barrera with his Wolf Mask creation during Art Buddies at Whittier International Elementary School (spring 1999).

Jesus Barrera sporting his Bulldogs Hockey costume he created with his Art Buddies mentor, Chad Nestor, at Whittier International Elementary School (spring 2000).

Jesus Barrera with his little Art Buddy talking about the costume the created together during Art Buddies presentations at Bancroft Elementary School (fall 2014).

Jesus Barrera with Art Buddies Program Director Stephanie Vagle while helping monitor sessions at Bancroft Elementary School (spring 2015).

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

Art Buddies founder to speak at Etsy

We're excited to announce that Art Buddies founder, Sue Crolick, will be speaking at Etsy headquarters in New York on Friday, April 17. Founded on the desire to empower individuals, connect communities, spark imagination, and promote the value of creativity, Etsy provides the perfect forum for Sue to share her inspiring story.

Sue began her advertising career in the Mad Men era, and became the first female art director at two of Minneapolis’ largest ad agencies, winning top awards in her field. 

In 1994, she founded Creatives for Causes, ending her 30-year career in advertising to start Art Buddies. Since then, Art Buddies has paired thousands of creative mentors one-on-one with thousands of underprivileged kids. For her work with children, she was honored as a Purpose Prize Fellow and national leader in social innovation.

For more on the history of Art Buddies and founder, Sue Crolick, visit http://www.artbuddies.org/history/ and http://www.artbuddies.org/awards-pr/.

For more about Etsy, visit https://www.etsy.com/about/. For an inside look at Etsy headquarters, visit http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/08/etsy-office-tour.html.

Art Buddies Lauren & Mikky (fall 2014)

Mr. Grit by artist Conrad Carlson at Etsy