Saving Lives Through the Arts
Do you believe the arts can save lives? Doesn’t that seem a bit far fetched? I mean, the arts bring beauty to our lives and feed our souls… is that saving lives? Last Thursday night I did some more research on this question at an event that celebrates and honors young people who have reached out – in some cases from very dark places – with courage to embrace their personal power through the arts. Now that is amazing! And YES, the arts can make the difference for a young person who may have discovered a new inspiration for going to school, or making healthy choices.
Madona Cole Lacy
The woman behind the “Creatively Embracing 21st Century Youth” event is the formidable and exuberant Madona Cole Lacy. She is the power behind , a nonprofit corporation that educates and empowers children, adolescents and parents of both secular and faith-based communities in the Long Island area, through the use of art, fashion and culture as mechanisms to improve interpersonal relationships; to avoid pitfalls that are unique to life in the 21st Century; and to specifically identify and effectively develop healthy problem-solving, enhance personal development and increase cultural sensitivity.”
As it further states on the website, “Madona Cole-Lacy has for over 30 years combined her professional skills and experiential lessons learned as a New York City Public School teacher, artist and parent, to offer art-related social and cultural enrichment programs and community service activities throughout Long Island and beyond. Among the programs that our organization focuses on are: A Self-Empowering Workshop for College-Bound High School Students which addresses the social aspect of college life, the “Get Set Mind Set”, for 9th through 11th grade students, Young Artist entrepreneurship Program, Parenting Skills Program, Teen Talk Self-Esteem Booster Program, Christian Teen Challenge Program, Women’s Divorce Survival Support Group Program and Creative Empowerment Arts Contest.”
Dear Madona, Thank you for all you do for our children on Long Island. For more information about “Creatively Embracing 21st Century Youth” please visit .
