Mindfulness is more than a quiet practice. Mindfulness is a way of being that invites presence, creativity, and compassion. For children, the arts provide a natural doorway into this state of awareness. When a child sings, paints, dances, or acts, the child becomes fully immersed in the moment, exploring self-expression and learning how to connect deeply with the world.
Many children, however, face barriers to these opportunities. Schools in under-resourced communities often reduce or eliminate arts programs when budgets are tight. Families navigating financial or social challenges may not be able to provide lessons or materials. Those gaps mean that children who could benefit most from mindful and creative outlets are left without access.
Arts outreach changes this story. When children are given safe and supportive spaces to explore music, theater, visual arts, and dance, they develop resilience, confidence, and healthy coping strategies. These programs encourage presence and patience while also opening doors to healing, growth, and joy.
My doctoral dissertation continues to explore how access to the arts can protect and empower youth, particularly those who face the greatest obstacles. This is not only a subject of research for me. This is personal. I believe that when children are given the chance to create, they discover their voices and their ability to shape the world in positive ways.
At Well&Co, we hold this truth at the center of our mission. Supporting equitable access to the arts is about more than education. Supporting equitable access to the arts is about justice, compassion, and mindfulness in action. Each time a child is given a paintbrush, a song, or a stage, we are investing in the future of that child and in the health of the community as a whole.
This is why my work, both academically and personally, will continue to advocate for the expansion of arts outreach and education. Mindfulness is not only found in quiet reflection. Mindfulness can also begin with the spark of creativity in the hands of a child who simply needed someone to believe in that possibility.
Mindfully curated by Debra Gudema for Well&Co.
📸: Cleveland Museum of Art