Our Mission

Our Mission

Art With Impact promotes mental wellness by creating space for young people to learn and connect through art and media.

Why We’re Unique

AWI is committed to a future where artists are revered as cultural icons of courage and change, enabling young people to communicate freely and fearlessly about their mental health.

We're high impact.

Our innovative, arts-based workshops reach audiences of college students and community members. Students are effectively moved to action, with 75% more likely to seek support for their wellness after engaging with our work. Since 2012 we've directly impacted over 10,000 students.

We have unique resources.

Through our annual film production program and online monthly short film competition, we expand and make available the world’s most diverse and compelling collection of short films on mental health, supporting a network of filmmakers, artists and young people in an interactive online community.

We're cost efficient.

We're about as scrappy as it gets. Being a primarily virtual organization, we have minimal overhead costs for core staff, and our contract educators are located through the country to minimize travel expenses. We engage professionals and academic institutions through sustainable partnerships and transparency of methods and outcomes.

Our Values

Everyone has a mental health story. Talking about it shouldn’t be taboo.
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Achievement

As an organization we are committed to impact… it’s right there in our name. So we evaluate our work. We measure our progress. We are willing to change direction when something proves ineffective. Our commitment to achievement requires courage, flexibility, humor and, above all, an open mind.
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Sustainability

We are committed to making long-lasting, durable social change. This requires responsible decision making that prioritizes the health and well-being of our community. As part of an ecosystem, we strive to contribute to our partners’ success. To ensure the longevity of our impact, we are committed to fostering diverse income streams, constantly evaluating our programs and regularly updating our strategies to meet current needs.
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Personal Growth

Each of us is on a personal journey. Art With Impact team members are committed to growing as people in understanding, compassion, skills and relationships. We foster growth in one another through concrete support, and by encouraging new skills development, both through formal and informal means, so that we can be our best selves and better serve our diverse community.
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Integrity

At the core of each person is a unique and precious identity. Art With Impact team members honor themselves, stay true to their own personal values, and carefully consider their words and actions in the context of who they are. In turn, we are able to be authentic with and genuinely supportive of those we serve.
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Respect

At the core of our relationships is respect for each person. Honoring different points of view and diverse experiences, we communicate cordially and with compassion. We respect the unique strengths of each individual we encounter, and seek to understand where others are coming from, demonstrating grace and generosity in our interactions.
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Empowerment

We want everyone to succeed and meet their potential. We cultivate empowerment by encouraging and supporting individuals to take new steps to support their own growth, and to share new tools with one another that encourage independence and self-actualization and by helping to find solutions that enable them to do so.