key staff
Catherine O’Neill Thorn, Executive Director/CEO
CLICK HERE for bio
Jessica Jarrard, Director of Operations
CLICK HERE for bio
Celeste Seiler, Agency Administrator
CLICK HERE for bio
Sarah Lanzarotta, Lead Facilitator and Director of Programs
CLICK HERE for bio
Laura Peña, Lead Facilitator and Program Manager
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Theo E.J. Wilson, Community Liaison
CLICK HERE for bio
staff demographics:
| Female: 5 | LGBTQ+ | 0 | Hispanic/Latinx | 1 |
| Male: 1 | African American | 1 | Caucasian | 4 |
AfA facilitators
Art from Ashes facilitators range from Master’s degree experts in counseling and professionals in the field of child development to poets and artists. Professional development in the form of curriculum training and an adult workshop series, as well a background check is required. Facilitators also are provided ongoing supervision with bi-annual reviews, and monthly trainings from experts in various fields of study relevant to facilitating youth, including group dynamics, adolescent brain development and drug/alcohol counseling. Volunteers who wish to work directly with youth are required to enroll in an adult workshop. Cost for the workshop is reimbursed after the volunteer assists at eight youth workshops.
board of directors
The Art from Ashes Board of Directors provides the skill and expertise needed to establish and run the development aspects of the organization. Each director shall be elected to serve a term of three years, and a director may be elected for an unlimited number of successive terms. Art from Ashes has 100% board financial giving.
Adriel Long :: President
:: Donor and Board Relations Coordinator for the Colorado Symphony Association
Expertise: Grant Writing, Event Planning, Program Development, Communication, Fundraising
Professional Affiliations: Americans for the Arts
County of residence: Denver
Term Expiration: July 2022
CLICK HERE for bio
Susan Martin :: Vice President and Treasurer
FunDevelopment Team Liaison
:: Accounting Supervisor at EOG Resources, Inc
Expertise: Fundraising, Communication, Visual Art, Accounting
County of Residence: Denver
Term Expiration: January 2021
CLICK HERE for bio
Michael Hooten, MSW
Events Team Liaison
:: Mental Health Therapist, Social Worker & Wellness/Transition/Life Coach
Expertise: Human-animal relationships for learning, development and counseling; mind-body-breath connection for physical and mental health performance; experiential learning, group dynamics and leadership; outdoor education, recreation and program management for youth and young adults
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Work, Neurosequential Network (trauma-informed practices), Association for Experiential Education, Association of Outdoor Recreation & Education (professional development and education/research committees), Climbing Wall Association, American Alpine Club, Leave No Trace Environmental Ethics, Denver Quality Afterschool Connection, Supreme Science Qigong, Warrior Canine Connection (service dog training), Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching
County of residence: Denver
Term Expiration: May 2022
CLICK HERE for bio
Josué Ruiz, FunDevelopment & Grant Writing Team Liaison
:: Director at HR (Heinrichs/Ruiz) Risk Management Services LTD
Expertise: Policy Analysis and Evaluation Strategy
Professional Affiliations: Capital Hill United Neighborhoods, Volunteers of America, Robin Hood Foundation, the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness
County/Country of residence: Denver, Colorado and London, England
Term Expiration: April 2023
CLICK HERE for bio
Executive Director/CEO
Catherine O’Neill Thorn
Expertise: Published Poet, Program & Curriculum Development, Public Speaking, Grant Writing, Graphic Design, Marketing, Fundraising
County of Residence: Jefferson
CLICK HERE for bio and to leave a comment
Director of Operations/Secretary
Jessica Jarrard
Expertise: Technical Writing, Technical Editing, Technical Writing for Translation, Teaching, E-Learning, Grant Writing
County of residence: Denver
CLICK HERE for bio
youth representatives to the board
Kumi Avila, age 19
Youth Participant/Poet/Performer
County of Residence: Arapahoe
Ray Arterburn, age 23
Youth Participant/Poet/Performer
County of Residence: Denver
board emeritus
Marie Verrett :: Founding Board Member
:: Retired Air Force Colonel
Expertise: Management/Supervision, Public Speaking, Contract Sales
Professional Affiliations: American Society of Notaries, Military Officers Association of America
County of Residence: Denver
CLICK HERE for bio
board of directors demographics:
| Female: 7 | LGBTQ+ | 2 | Hispanic/Latinx | 2 |
| Male: 2 | African American | 2 | Caucasian | 5 |
board of advisors
Tommy Bagwell
Business Owner/Stylist, Fleur Salon
Andy Barbo
Owner/Operations Manager at Fleur Salon
Courtney Chandler
Adolescent Substance Abuse Counselor, The Phoenix Center
Sharon Gabel, MBA, PhD
Senior Human Resources Analyst, Builders FirstSource
Cindy Grove
Vice President Relationship Manager at Colorado Business Bank
Rachel Julkowski
Documentary Filmmaker; Sesame Street Assistant Editor
Lewis Lease, MSW
Maestro de Capoeira
Expertise: Program Evaluation Specialist, Child Protection, Mental Health, Community-Based Social Work Practice, Capoeira, Photography
Lisa Lee
Attorney, Featherstone Petrie DeSisto LLP, Faculty of Federal Advocates, Denver Bar Association, Colorado Women’s Bar
Chris Loffelmacher
Program Coordinator for Adult Cultural Programming at Denver Public Library
Benjamin Martin
Assistant Vice President, Mountain View Bank of Commerce
Debra A. Porter
Associate, Fairfield & Woods, P.C.
board of advisors demographics:
| Female: 6 | Pacific Islander | 1 | LGBTQ | 4 |
| Male: 5 | Caucasian | 10 |
volunteers & interns
Volunteers include board members and staff, all of whom donate 6 or more hours per month in their field of expertise. Volunteers choose from the following on which team to serve:
- Communications Team
- Community Liaison Team
- Events Team
- FunDevelopment Team
- Grant Writing Team
- Volunteer Coordination Team
Please indicate on the application if you’re interested in being on the Board of Directors or the Board of Advisors.
*Note that volunteers who work directly with youth must fulfill specific requirements. After submitting your application, contact the Director of Programs: 303.837.1550.
Apply for an internship opportunity with Art from Ashes in a multitude of fields, and we’ll set up an interview within a week of receiving your application. Please note that only two internships are available per semester.
Go HERE to find out more about volunteering at Art from Ashes.
Go HERE to apply for an internship.
guest artist bios
A pool of more than 30 contracted Guest Poets and Artists are available for AfA workshops. They are chosen based on their dedication to the arts and because they are professionals in their craft with honors, awards, and publications to their credit. They inspire and motivate the youth to engage in the process of creative expression at each workshop. Additionally, Art from Ashes introduces more than 40 published poets to the curriculum to ensure youth are introduced to the broader cannon of poetry as literature.
Gregory Harris (SETH)
CLICK HERE for bio
Qui’Anna Ray (Lady Speech)
CLICK HERE for bio
Suzi Q.
CLICK HERE for bio
Theo Wilson (Luce)
CLICK HERE for bio
Angela Nicole
CLICK HERE for bio
Joshua Randy Abeyta
CLICK HERE for bio
Norma Johnson
CLICK HERE for bio
Dan Martinez
CLICK HERE for bio
Santemu Aakhu
Franklin Cruz
Kayla Marque
CLICK HERE for bio
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Michael
Hooten is a graduate student of Social Work and a 10-year professional in the field of Experiential Education and Development. He currently works with multiple agencies, such as the Institute for Human-Animal Connection and the City of Denver’s Outdoor Recreation Program, exploring youth empowerment and human connection to the natural environment. In graduate studies, Michael focuses on the emerging field of Experiential Therapy and emphasizes Family Systems. With a background in alternative learning environments and nature-based therapy, his professional approach strongly considers the relationship between movement in the physical body and the neurobiological process of development. Michael has managed programs overseeing risk-management, staff development, and team culture in the fields of recreation, education, and mental health.
Michael’s first two degrees included a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Florida State University. He is certified in Mental Health First Aid and is a Wilderness First Responder. After completing his TEFL certificate in 2013, he moved to China to teach English as a foreign language and further his personal studies of Kung Fu and Qigong. Michael has taught Qigong and breath-work to a variety of audiences since 2010.
Adriel is an Art Administrator who works with Colorado Business Committee for the Arts to advance Colorado’s creative economy by connecting businesses and the arts. Since 2013, Adriel has worked with nonprofit organizations and corporate businesses where she has utilized her cross training in programming and resource development to help further their missions, raise awareness, and connect individuals to causes they care about. Adriel holds a Master’s degree in Arts, Culture, Outreach, and Advocacy from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with minors in Arts Administration and Spanish from Texas Christian University.
A strong advocate for her local arts and culture community, Adriel is passionate about youth access to and engagement with the arts. In her free time, Adriel can be found hiking with her dog Budha or failing successfully at a new creative pursuit.
Catherine O’Neill Thorn, Executive Director
Catherine O’Neill Thorn is the founder and executive director of Art from Ashes, an award-winning Colorado nonprofit that provides transformational creative programs for struggling youth. O’Neill Thorn, a member of the National Association of Professional Women, Colorado Prevention Partners Coalition, and the Human Services Network of Colorado, has been conducting poetry and spoken word workshops for youth and adults since 1992 when she developed the Phoenix Rising transformational writing process. She has conducted sessions at juvenile facilities since 1992, including residential and day treatment centers, probation departments, and schools. She established and ran weekly poetry sessions for three years for Columbine students after the fatal shootings in 1999. Participating students gave a public reading attended by international media, and in 2000, O’Neill Publishing produced Screams Aren’t Enough, a compilation of Columbine student poetry, which won the Colorado Book Award.
O’Neill Thorn also is a published poet, writer and journalist and was the proprietor of O’Neill Publishing for 12 years (Marketing, Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing). She was founding editor and publisher of Poiesis, a bimonthly calendar and newsletter of poetry events for the state of Colorado from 1992 to 1996. In 1994, O’Neill Thorn established the award-winning weekly poetry series Toads in the Garden, held at The Daily Grind Coffee House in Denver. In 1996, the Colorado Council on the Arts and the Columbine Poetry Society awarded O’Neill Thorn a grant to publish The Poiesis Poetry Guide for Colorado.
O’Neill Thorn was on the founding committee to elect the first Poet Laureate for the state of Colorado since the death of Thomas Hornsby Ferril in 1988. She served as the Colorado Council on the Arts coordinator for TumbleWords, a series of literary events designed to encourage audiences for literature throughout the West, and was a poetry judge for both the 1994 Colorado Book Award and the 2007 Poetry Out Loud national competition among high school students. She was the editor and publisher Inner 303, an arts and poetry magazine for Denver’s urban youth, from 1997 to 2001, and the inspirational book/journal for youth Why Keep Tryin’? Voices from the Street (2000).
In 2003, after deep statewide funding cuts to youth organizations and art programs, O’Neil Thorn started the tax-exempt nonprofit organization Art from Ashes in order to continue serving struggling young people throughout Colorado through the arts.
In 2006, O’Neill Thorn was presented with the Community “Artivist” Award by the Pan African Arts Society for “years of consistent commitment to the urban art scene in the Denver Metro area,” given to those who work to encourage and support arts education, personal creativity and community engagement. She also is a recipient of Westword‘s Award for Best Use of Poetry (2006) and Westword‘s Mastermind Award for Literary Arts (2008). She also received the 2011 Women’s Information Network Outstanding Service Award, and in 2011 was selected as a “Community Leader” by Beanstalk Foundation. Under O’Neill Thorn’s leadership, Art from Ashes has been awarded the Cherry Creek Diversity Conference Human Rights Award; the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) Black Caucus Award; the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Certificate of Excellence (2010); SAMHSA’s Service to Science Award (2012); The Denver Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts; and has five times been honored by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities as one of the top 50 youth arts organizations in the country.
O’Neill Thorn is a seasoned motivational speaker, presenting locally, nationally and in the media on the importance of developing creative ways to foster perception management and whole-brain integration, including the Colorado Juvenile Justice Conference, the National Education Association’s Teachers’ Conference, the Northern California Psychiatric Associations Conference on Alternative Therapies; the 2011 International Women’s Day Conference; and has been a keynote speaker at multiple conferences, including Creative Mornings, which has an international audience. In addition to 20 years of curriculum development and working with more than 11,000 youth through guided writing workshops visual art, and theater, she has worked with hundreds of adults and business professionals, encouraging personal transformation and increased productivity through creative expression.
Return to our team
by Zaya Heffenger, 17
Clear underneath those same stars
That burn me every time I reach out to touch
Because it’s better than being in a freezing cold universe
White contrasting with the recessing of my life
My favorite star that bursts just before
I have a chance to say what I always meant to say
by Zaya Heffenger, 17
Got abducted
As I was born for the stars
Home never wanted
And home is where the heart is
My heart belongs to
The deep velvet of the universe
That has sprinkles of light
That is just barely enough
Enough to smile
Enough to breath
Run
Run far away
So far light can’t even touch
And sound won’t ever reach me
It’s enough
Home is where the heart is
And I have neither
But I have hope for infinite miles
And infinite smiles
I have hope that my home is you
Art from Ashes es el ganador del Premio del Alcalde 2018 a la Excelencia en Arte y Cultura: Premio para Jóvenes
Este premio se otorga a una persona menor de 18 años que ha hecho una notable diferencia en la comunidad a través de las artes o una organización que ha impactado significativamente las vidas de los jóvenes en la Ciudad y el Condado de Denver a través de las artes.
¡Gracias al comité de selección por el Premio del Alcalde 2018 a la Excelencia en Arte y Cultura (incluyendo a Erika Righter of Hope Tank), quien honró a Art from Ashes con el Premio Juvenil!
También fueron honrados Dorothy Tanner (Premio a la Innovación), Su Teatro Cultural y Centro de Artes Escénicas (Premio Global), Colorado Ballet / Keya Clairmont (Premio IMAGINE 2020), y René Heredia Flamenco Fantasy Dance Theater (Premio de Impacto). Gracias al alcalde Hancock, a Denver Arts & Venues, en particular a Tariana Navas-Nieves, Becky Grupe y Brooke Dilling, ¡quienes organizaron todo el evento!
Gracias también al artista indígena Jonathan Nelson por las hermosas revistas, los postres de Sugar Bakeshop y Coffee House, que son administrados por mujeres, los premios de Access Gallery, y la fotografía de eventos de fotógrafos veteranos, TASK FORCE ISO.
¡Gracias a los maestros de ceremonias Suzi Q. Smith y Rachel Bayse, y por la excelente música de David Ochoa!
¡Y estamos muy agradecidos por el maravilloso trabajo de Zerosun por este video increíble!
Es como hacer el barco moverse
Publicado el 25 de abril de 2019 por AfAAdmin.
Entrevista por Michael McLoughlin
MICHAEL (M): ¿Puedes decirme cómo entraste en contacto por primera vez con Art from Ashes?
ZAYA (Z): Estaba en un programa completamente diferente llamado the Youth Advocate Program, para niños que realmente estaban luchando en la vida, ya sea con sus propias emociones o con la familia. (En the Youth Advocate Program) Te llevan a diferentes lugares, y uno de los lugares fue AfA. Recuerdo que cuando lo descubrí por primera vez, veníamos todos los miércoles, y definitivamente fue una de las mejores experiencias que he tenido en mi vida. Siempre me hace feliz estar aquí.
M: ¿Cuánta conexión has tenido con Art from Ashes?
Z: Definitivamente es una de las conexiones más profundas que he tenido. Por eso me gusta tanto. En mi vida cotidiana, no hay muchas personas a las que pueda recurrir, pero este es uno de los lugares a los que siempre puedo ir, en este lugar me escuchan y eso es bueno porque no suelo hablar mucho. Aquí hablo de manera metafóricamente, de esa manera puedo discutir realmente las cosas que me interesan y conectarme con la gente de una manera que es realmente inspiradora.
M: Antes de encontrar Art from Ashes, ¿cuánta conexión tenías con el arte y la poesía?
Z: Antes de AfA tuve una conexión con la Defensora de la Juventud (youth advocate), y todavía hablo con ella. Esta persona es una de las grandes conexiones que he tenido con alguien y una de las experiencias más brillantes que he tenido. Cuando tengo una conexión de este tipo, sólo trato de aferrarme a ellas porque son muy raras. Creo que cuando llegan ese tipo de conexiones, hay que apreciarlas.
M: Dijo que siente que este es un lugar donde puede expresar su voz, pero no puede hacerlo en otros lugares. Cuénteme cómo pudo darse cuenta de esta situación cuando comenzó a venir más a Art from Ashes.
Z: He notado una gran diferencia en mi vida diaria. Como si AfA se sintiera más como mi hogar que mi propio hogar. Y es porque la gente siempre quiso que estuviera en silencio. Si alguna vez dije algo, entonces siempre fue como, me metí en problemas, o me gritaron, o cualquier otra cosa que quisieran hacerme. Recuerdo que cuando escribí mi poema en AfA, ellos querían que hablara. Me dijeron: “Queremos que vayas al micrófono y digas lo que escribiste”. Fue una locura, como si nadie realmente me pidiera que hablara, ¿sabes? Nunca nadie quiso escucharme, pero aquí realmente querían escuchar, y por eso leí, y fue uno de los momentos de mayor alivio que he tenido. Eso me dio paz, además sentí que realmente le importaba a alguien. La gente dice todo el tiempo: “Significas mucho para mí” o “Quiero lo mejor para ti”, pero sus acciones dicen lo contrario. En realidad no quieren escucharte. En AfA es diferente: dicen que te aman, pero lo hacen a través de acciones. Y te alientan a hablar, alientan a los demás a escuchar y alientan a todos a respetar la voz del otro. Eso es realmente real.
M: ¿Tienes un ejemplo de algunas metáforas que has usado en tus poemas?
Z: Sí, una experiencia de la que realmente no hablo mucho, porque la mayoría de la gente no quiere hablar de eso porque se siente incómoda, es que cuando era más joven, estaba siendo abusando. Pero aquí, pude hablar de ello. La gente realmente se conectó con lo que estaba diciendo, usé una metáfora del hombre bogey (bogey-man), también una del océano, ya sabes. Es como hacer que el barco se mueva, pero ese movimiento trata de ahogarte, o como una tormenta o algo así. Eso es lo que realmente me refiero. En realidad no llamo mis experiencias por su nombre… es difícil para mí decirlo, porque la gente no sabe de qué estás hablando, pero igual entienden. Las personas que me escuchan no saben por lo que pase (el abuso que sufrí cuando era más joven); no lo saben lógicamente. Pero si se pueden conectar conmigo emocionalmente, lo sienten.
M: ¿Cómo crees que el arte va a afectar las cosas a medida que avanzas?
Z: Definitivamente noté un cambio, incluso puedes verlo en mí. Como si me conocieras antes de comenzar a asistir a Art from Ashes y quisieras hacer una entrevista, probablemente diría que no, y no querría decir nada, ¿sabes? Ahora me anima a hablar, a ser valiente y a dejarme ser. Todavía estoy trabajando en cosas. Ahora me conecto con la gente y antes no tenía a nadie, ¿sabes? Definitivamente estoy avanzando, creo que el cambio se ve. Seguiré teniendo más coraje, más valentía, más honestidad y esperanza. Porque estoy creciendo cada día, ¿sabes?
M: ¿Vas a seguir practicando la poesía?
Z: En AfA me volví un escritor de poemas y gracias a eso estoy intentando nuevas cosas… Siempre he querido cantar, por ejemplo. De hecho, empecé a convertir algunos de mis poemas en canciones.
M: ¿Y cómo va eso?
Z: Va bien. Tengo suficiente para un álbum. Tengo un paquete entero, suficiente para toda la producción. Estoy trabajando con alguien para grabarlo, y estamos trabajando en mi voz también. Estamos haciendo borradores, y estamos viendo que funciona mejor. Cantar es mi nueva pasión.
M: Eso suena como un gran avance. ¿Cómo vas a seguir adelante con estos proyectos?
Z: Definitivamente voy a seguir escribiendo, y voy a seguir haciendo más música, más álbumes., haré las cosas una por una, y también iré a la escuela y obtendré una educación universitaria. simplemente pondré creatividad y esperanza en todo lo que hago.
Over the years, I have worked diligently and passionately to create an agency that can stand strong in the community—always with a view to sustainability. Starting with volunteers and gradually adding a small part-time staff, we set the intention to hire and train a dedicated staff willing to work alongside me and even beyond me. After 15 years, I am honored to have that team in place. In addition, our board of directors has proven their dedication on a purely volunteer basis, donating money and working well beyond their monthly commitment to ensure we continue to serve the youth we love and support the communities in which we live.
I know that my journey toward health and wholeness is strengthened because of these good people—and because of you.
None of this could have been possible without the involvement of the wider community of volunteers, supporters, and creative geniuses. We measure that success in the number of youth served—their transformation undeniable as they discover the power of their creativity. It also is measured in our many awards and national recognition. Ultimately, the success of the work we do is no longer dependent on my full-time presence, which is why I know Art from Ashes will continue to thrive over the next four to six months.
Although I will still be available during my time of healing, the dream has been realized in that the community supports the agency that supports the community. That is every founder’s dream.
Please know that your generosity this giving season, as always, furthers our mission. I would ask that your gift be so joyfully and freely given, that AfA’s wonderful staff can focus not only on their (significant amount of) work but for a time, also on some of mine. Please support them as much as you are able.
While I may not be able to respond to messages directly, know that I appreciate and would ask for your prayers and good thoughts.
I hope to see you soon!