Volunteers

Over the last couple of months, The Arts of Life community has been dealing with staff changes, planning big events, and seeing good friends move away to start new chapters of their lives. To say the least, it’s been hectic. One of the things that the staff and artists at The Arts of Life are […]

Sandy Lang found The Arts of Life through ReEmployability, a program that supports workers injured on the job to transition back to work by volunteering. Like most ReEmployability volunteers, Sandy didn’t know what to expect from the studio. She didn’t have experience in the arts or working with people with disabilities, so at first she

It has been a busy summer for the Chicago Studio, from fairs and street fests, to solo shows, and the Annual Blow-Out Sale, but we didn’t do it alone. One outstanding volunteer was there through it all, Mia Fornoza. Hailing from Geneva, Mia initially heard about The Arts of Life through her aunt.  She was intrigued. 

 Summer is internship season! This year the North Shore studio was lucky to have two students from Northwestern University join our community. (And that’s in addition to the four wonderful Lake Forrest College students we featured in last month’s Volunteer Spotlight!) Jared and Emily each brought unique talents with them to The Arts of Life and

This summer, The Arts of Life North Shore studio had the tremendous good luck to work with four students from Lake Forest College. For this month’s Volunteer Spotlight, we’d like to tell you a little about each of these ambitious young people!DYLAN!Marketing was Dylan’s focus this summer. He found The Arts of Life through the

Last month, The Arts of Life North Shore studio hosted its first Volunteer Awards Week to honor volunteers who are positively impacting our community. Each volunteer received an award created and signed by North Shore artists. When the awards were presented, community members took turns speaking about why each recipient is important to the studio

Vanessa De Leon is our very favorite ukelele-playing, choreography-creating, psychology-studying volunteer! Her bandmate Hector Jones (pictured above with Vanessa) sat down to grill her about her life, her relationship with the studio and her thoughts about Van GoGo’s upcoming gig at SPACE in Evanston. Let’s listen in on their conversation… —Hector: How did you hear about the

The Arts of Life partners together with ReEmployability, a company which allows individuals who have been injured on their jobs to transition back to work by volunteering at non-profit organizations. Employees are able to earn their usual wages while participating in the program. ReEmployability volunteers are often completely out of their element, and in part

Retirement doesn’t mean taking it easy for Barbara Hanan. After retiring from her full time position as a school nurse in Chicago, Barb has continued to substitute at local schools while also maintaining a busy schedule of volunteering and social activities. We’re so grateful to be one of her volunteer sites! NorthShore artist Quinn Zenner,

This winter, the Chicago Studio has hosted six ReEmployAbility volunteers, and for everyone involved the experience has been extraordinary and uplifting.ReEmployability is a Florida based company that allows workers who have been injured on their full time job to transition back to work by volunteering at a non-profit organization. Workers are given the chance to