The Back Story
The Why Behind Our What
What drives your passion for teaching? Let's infuse that passion into our Garden and watch it flourish! Whether you're an arts educator in transition or a retiree with incredible experience, your expertise can make a real difference for children in underserved communities. Join us and share your gifts!
"Rooted in the legacy of my mother's hands—kneading dough, pulling weeds by the root, and stitching love into every seam—I blend art and mentorship as a teaching artist. For over a decade, I have been documenting children's hands. I honor her legacy with this process and empower young creators to find their voice through tactile expression. My work at The Blended Garden merges art expression and hands-on learning, fostering resilience and creativity in every touch and texture." Jahidah Diaab
Empower
Growth
I Love Squirrels!!!!
Brenna is a mother and sees parenthood
as part of her artistic practice. A great lover of animals and the natural world, themes of conservation and respect for the earth have defined her work over the years. Surrounded by a halo of materials and children around her, Brenna wreaks havoc on everything artistically beautiful.
With arms outstretched, ready to receive whatever the inspiration of art brings, Brenna is present and accounted for it. Brenna shares her home with her blended family, which includes cats named Krasner (for Lee Krasner), Hobbes, Ferdinand, and Enchilada.
Angela's journey started at The Fresh Air Fund in the early '80s, where she first inhaled fresh country air, her city eyes full of wonder. Today, she has exchanged skyscrapers for sunrise pastures. In her rural retreat, she invites friends from NYC's concrete jungle to explore woodland trails, building rock sculptures mid-stream and laughing as their city shoes turn grass-stained and joyful.
Pure, unfiltered joy. Years go by, and a young city boy grows into an incredible photographer. His lens captures waterfalls, dew-covered leaves, and wildlife—his best shots inspired by Angela's early woodland walks.
That's Angela's circle of life: planting wild adventures, capturing fleeting moments, and passing down a love for nature's beauty. Her legacy? A young photographer from the gritty city whose eyes find beauty where wild things thrive— all sparked by Angie's trip into the woods that rewired their worlds, one click at a time.
Nature Rocks!
Sophier Campbell's Gentle Magic
Sophier Campbell weaves invisible threads of connection wherever she goes, from a retired kindergarten teacher who turns lessons into wonderlands. To an event organizer for seniors, she's the event planner conjuring festivals where laughter bridges decades. She's a ninja—silent, swift, and transformative—yet insists she's just a shadow.
But here's the truth: there's no shadow without light. Sophier is the light in rooms full of people, making every grandparent a storyteller, every child a revered guest. At her gatherings, the youth dance with elders, sharing smiles that erase years. From dressing a cast to dressing the shut-in and most vulnerable, her experiences aren't just planned; they're portals to being seen and heard. In Sophie's world, kindness is the currency, and everyone's heartbeat syncs to a rhythm of care.
Joi is in the know about all the important stuff! Did you know that coffee can clear your sensory palate? How awesome is that? Ask Joi anything, and she will have a story about it and a picture to go with it. She is excited to bring her passion for Ethereal Celestion to the Blended Garden to inspire young and old to look up and see the cosmos through movement.
"Document Everything or it Never Happened"
Joi Anissa Jackson
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With her guitar on her back and a song in her heart, Lynnette Arthur is an acoustic advocate for children's development. She believes that music is a material that wakes up a child's mind and calms the spirit.
