Indigo Cultural Center Joins the Canvas of the Heart Podcast

Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program model, Art + Mentors = Resilience, helps children build the resilience they need to overcome trauma by connecting them with caring adults and creative activities that develop their skills and sense of self. Free Arts believes that healthy connections with adults create change. Through partnerships with local child welfare agencies, Free Arts is able to provide this intervention to children free of cost to program participants.

Dr. Jayley Janssen joins the podcast to discuss evaluation data being collected in Indigo Cultural Center's partnership with Free Arts of Arizona. The podcast covers how Free Arts is addressing racial trauma within the child welfare system through trauma-informed, arts-based programming. They explore how creative expression can help youth in foster care build safety, connection, and self-understanding—foundational elements for healing and growth. The conversation highlights how Free Arts intentionally centers racial equity and belonging in its programs and evaluation, showing that when young people feel seen, safe, and connected, they can begin to strengthen key protective factors like resilience, hope, and self-efficacy.

Learn more about Free Arts Arizona: https://freeartsaz.org