Board Member Highlight: Karen Zecy

Hello, my name is Remington Menroe I am a local artist here in Kansas City, Mo I spend a lot of my time volunteering with veterans, senior citizens and at risk youth. Last year along there was more suicides among our vets here at home, then soldiers kills overseas, 3 out of 5 senior citizens are shut in’s, and suffer from depression, and our children/teens today live with depressions, anxiety of fitting in, bullying and much more. Many turn to drugs alcohol and many run away from home. Sometimes these members of community our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, our children, our friend and family just need a friend, and little bit of hope, and something to look forwards to.

Many times while volunteering, it’s has comes up that I am an artist, and many would say to me they can’t even draw a stick figure, one thing lead to another an next thing I knew I have a house full of veterans, at risk youth and senior citizens I would get out all of my art supplies out. Many really took to it, many never even picked up a paint brush or played with clay and you know after showing then the tricks n techniques and the how to’s, they was drawing more than stick figures. After that they wanted more, to learn more do more. So on the weekends and a few times a week id have an open house, put out the art supplies and next thing you knew I had 10 to 15 people in my home, from all walks of life, caring on, laughing painting drawing sculpting and in the time they was there they got to think about something positive, creative, and escape for a little while their lives, and get lost in something that made them smile, laugh and they socialized with others who had many of the same issues they deal with day after day their physical limitations, financial hardship, disabilities, depression and so on.

I can’t change the world, but I can help make a difference in the lives of those around me, I can offer those in our community something fun and creative, I can offer an escape from the day to day even if it’s for just a few hours a day, a few times a week. I have the space, the knowhow and now trying to get the community to help me stock the art supplies so anyone and everyone who comes to my studio can’t learn about, explore and experience the arts.

Now I find myself having to ask for help, from the community. I have started a nonprofit I’ve taking my studio and im making into a community art studio and gallery. I have everything lined and up and ready to go, I just need help to finish out the space and stock the shelves with art supplies, paints, brushes pens papers glues and so forth.

Missouri Art Projects “MAP”, is a non-profit art studio/workshop here in Kansas City Missouri. We believe that we do not have to lose the many benefits of art due to the uncertain economic times when we can work as a community to contribute, facilitate, and promote artistic growth for the enrichment of all. MAP will provide everyone in our community access to a free or low-cost hands-on approach to discovering and keeping art in their lives. At MAP we believe that “art can touch the soul, shape a future and strengthen a community.”

MAP will offer the community the chance that many would not normally have, to learn about and explore the many different art mediums along with free or low-cost supplies needed along with instructions, tricks, tips and techniques used in each medium such as drawing, sketching, painting, sculpting and much more.

Who benefits from MAP programs: our brothers, sisters, moms, dads, our children, our family and friends, our Veterans, Senior Citizens, Persons living with debilitating/terminal illness and conditions, Single parents and their children, Persons with mental and physical disabilities, local schools, after school programs and local youth groups and local new/emerging artists. The community as a whole, for art brings us many seen and unseen benefits. Art makes for a more vibrant and creative environment in which we live. Art in our community has a ripple effect, so by hosting art shows and exhibits and assisting our new local artist as well as established artist, the resulting generation of sales, and increased interest in art will attract visitors that will stimulate economic growth and prosperity in our business community.

How the Programs work:

Through donations and sponsorships MAP will provide a warm and inviting work space 5 days a week to the community and provide free or low cost art supplies and well as instruction by qualified volunteers. Each month a new art medium will be presented for our community to learn about and explore with hands-on sessions. We will be provide art supplies to our local schools, after school groups, and other community groups here in our community.

How our programs make a difference in the community:

Art can help our members of the community who live with extraordinary hardships find a creative outlet for stress relief and bring community members who share common bonds together. Art stimulates more creative thinking, and ideas, it can bridge cultural gaps, create new friendships and partnerships with in our community. Intermingling art with public places and local businesses creates a more vibrant and artistic community for all.

How you can help:

On average the cost of art supplies that we provide free to the community per person is $8.50.

Each day we host 8 community members per art session 4 times a day, that’s 32 community members a day which is 160 per week and an impressive 640 community members a month that will be have access to explore and benefit from the programs at MAP.

MAP relies on financial donations and donations of art supplies to make all this possible. Every donation helps-from a onetime donation or ongoing monthly or yearly sponsorships. You can help us make a difference in the many lives in our community and help create a brighter and more creative and vibrant community for us all.Individual1 session1 month3 months6 months1 year1 Individual$8.50$34.00$102.00$204.00$408.00Group of 8$68.00$272.00$816.00$1,632.00$3,264.0064 members$544.00$2,176.00$1,632.00$3,264.00$6,528.00Sponsor an artist$25.00$50.00$75.00$100.00$250.00

For more information please visit our website at freekcmoarts.com

To schedule a meeting for more detailed information,

please call Remington Menroe, Director of MAP at 816-868-9764

or you can Email info@freekcmoarts.com

Donations can be made out to “ Missouri Art Project “ or you can go to PayPal.com to make a secure and safe donation in the who to send money to please use the email address info@freekcmoarts.com that is a nonprofit status PayPal acct.

MAP is located at 104 Askew Avenue, Kansas City MO 64123

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Remington Menroe

Director of MAP