I’m Lauren - abstract artist, art teacher, and holistic art therapy practitioner originally from Birmingham, Alabama that since 2023 has been working to do art and art therapy with about 100 kiddos at a children’s home in Kenya!
I am certified to do art therapy activities, but am also a certified Trauma & Resilience Specialist! These skills have been incredibly useful in my work with our children, many of whom have experienced unthinkable trauma before coming to live here at the home.
My Projects
From leading creative art therapy sessions with children to teaching hands-on projects, my work spans across different fields, all rooted in fostering creativity and connection. On campus, I focus on using art to inspire emotional growth and self-expression in young minds, blending my passion for teaching and mission work.
Whether it's guiding a class or working on individually-driven projects, I love helping others discover the transformative power of creativity.
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The kids typically have free time every day after school, between 3-6pm afgter they finish their homework and then on Saturdays all day and Sunday afternoons. I bring out paper and art materials and we sit and make art and talk about life and anything else that they want or need to talk about.
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Inspired by Mrs. Arensberg on Instagram, one of my first projects was collecting items for my Care Closet. I pull from these items the items when there's a child that has to spend time in the hospital, when we do home visits into the community, when new children come to live here each year, or to make care packages when a child loses a family member or just is having a hard time and need an extra glimmer or happiness. I also pull from the care Closet when any of my kiddos get gum stuck in their hair, or need bandages!
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When I first started as a missioner, some of my 6th graders didn't know that there were oceans between the continents where they would have to do some swimming if they were to walk around the world!
I am a huge book lover, and wanted to start a colelction for both dorms so that the kids that want to travel to new worlds through reading had libraries that they could reach for during free time.