Zach Jewell is the Founder/CEO of Into the Dark Blue, a nonprofit organization focused on men's mental wellness. Zach has always had a passion for bringing people together and creating a positive encouraging space. He'll share about the culmination of his experiences and passions that has led him to creating community and advocating for mental health through the arts. Zach will also guide us through a writing exercise the helps us understand what we're feeling in a visual and written format (all you need is pencil + paper). 

Lear more about Zach:

It's hard to believe some of the transformational stories Kim Hamilton, Program Coordinator, shares with us in this month's Hearts Need Art highlight episode. Whether subtle or drastic, Kim shares some of the ways our recent projects and initiatives directly impacted the people who participated in our programs. Large window murals, bedside art, portrait projects, line dancing, conference art projects...get the scoop and get inspired to consider that you are capable of much more than you may think!

For more information on how to get involved and/or the Initiatives mentioned in this episode, please visit heartsneedart.org/donate or heartsneedart.org/1000hearts.

**Content advisory: This episode may contain sensitive topics that can be difficult to discuss, including suicide. If you need help or support, please call 988, or visit www.988lifeline.org.** Jordan Lally is a singer-songwriter, meditation teacher and mental health advocate. Through a unique combination of storytelling, original music and guided meditation, Jordan promotes a proactive approach to mental health. He tours nationally along with his band the Big Infinite sharing their music and message of self-love through the “Power of Expression” - a concert, school assembly and documentary presentation offered in partnership with the Ed Lally Foundation. 

Join us to hear about his life's work, be guided through a breathing-focused meditation, and see the Big Infinite's documentary trailer.

GIVEAWAY: Gain FREE access to the Big Infinite's documentary using promo code HeartsNeedArt at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/powerofexpressiondoc. There are 10 free downloads available, first come, first served.  

Connect with Jordan: edlallyfoundation.org ; thebiginfinite.com

Social media: @edlallyfoundation ; @thebiginfinite

Special guest, Jed Craddock, joins us for our Valentine's Day episode! Jed's musical sound can best be described as soul/roots/pop. Jed’s dynamic voice serves as a bridge that connects many musical genres. While the vibe may shift from tender acoustic singer-songwriter to heavy hitting trap/dance track, his music maintains a cohesive feel while giving space to an array of different musical voices. 

Hear the title track from his band's new EP, Runnin' on Empty and the story behind it; write haikus with Vocab; and make some heart-art with Catherine that you can submit to our Make 1000 Give 1000 project! Visit heartsneedart.org/1000hearts to get started!

Connect with Jed and hear more of his wonderful music: https://jedcraddockmusic.com/

Judy Seaman started Video Memoir Creations as a way to capture the essence of people's stories through dialogue, reflection, and film. She shares what inspired her to start creating memoirs, guides one of our hosts through the memoir discussion process, and provides tips for how you can start recording important history or personal stories (no special equipment needed). Judy will also explain the value of reminiscence especially with aging: the ability to recall and reflect helps older adults with their identity and self-confidence. It gives family members a sense that one's legacy will be preserved and may protect against depression and loneliness. You'll also hear a poem Judy wrote from Andrea VOCAB Sanderson's writing prompt in S2E30.

Learn more:

- https://videomemoircreations.com/

We're one month into the New Year, and it may be a good time to check in with what your plans are for the months ahead. As Hearts Need Art is planning and growing, we're taking a minute to welcome our two newest board members and hear about Hearts Need Art's expansion into more healthcare communities. 

Vocab shares a growth-themed writing prompt paired with Catherine's tree drawing tutorial (and yes, our Board Members do the projects, too!). You really only need a pencil and paper to clear out some self-doubt, jump in and create with us.

To learn how you can further our mission, visit heartsneedart.org/donate.

Content Warning: This episode may contain references to domestic abuse and trauma. 

Allison Body is a certified Health Coach and Therapeutic Art Life Coach as well as a visual artist and survivor of domestic abuse. In this episode, Allison shares how art has been key to working through trauma and how she combines health coaching and art to help clients manage stress, find self-expression, and visualize goals.

Allison also guides us through a visualization-based art activity to help define your desired future-state.

Learn more:

Claim Allison's free book, The Art to Your Dream Life, and set up a free, 30-minute coaching appointment: https://arttoyourdreamlife.com/workbook

Reinfred Addo is a speech-language pathologist, writer, and graphic/visual artist. He has written health-related poems and stories, conducted memory journals with his speech therapy patients, and selected other people's health-related poems for a literary journal that he edits.

His books mentioned in this episode include Signs of Life, The Dedicadas, and Washed Over.

Come make some art with Andrea Nelson, former pre-school special education teacher turned full-time artist and content creator! Her short art videos on Instagram and TikTok are for people who may be intimidated by art or have no artistic experience at all. Her goal is to help people unlock their creativity through art that feels doable and fun. In this episode, you'll hear about...

Andrea also guides us through a simple water color project with expressive color.

For the art project, you'll need:

Learn more about Andrea / enroll in her classes at https://www.adreamoradayart.com/.

Find her on social media: @andrea.nelson.art.

Presented by Hearts Need Art.

We're kicking off 2023 by visiting with Rashard Dobbins, Executive Director of Class Act Detroit, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower youth via music and arts education through the elements of hip-hop.

Topics include:

Connect with Class Act Detroit:

About Rashard Dobbins:

Rashard has more than ten years of experience working in the entertainment industry as a performer and production professional. He has had worked on projects such as The Walking Dead, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, All Eyez On Me, and The Internship. He has also served as a liaison for a leading talent agency that specializes in cultivating talented youth. Some of his highlights include being a Class Two Fellow of the WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership, Leadership Deli Spring 2020 Cohort Participant, and panelist for various youth organizations.