Community Need
Art and love can change the world.
Aurora is a richly diverse community that comes with richly diverse needs. The overarching community need that we will be addressing is providing art therapy for our community. The Light of The Heart is the first not-for-profit in the Aurora area (includes the counties of DuPage, Will, Kane and Kendall) to exclusively provide art therapy programming; furthermore, the art therapy programming will be affordable and high quality. Art therapists contracted to provide services at TLOTH will have at minimum a masters degree in art therapy (or equivalent), be a Registered Art Therapist and participate in mandatory ongoing clinical art therapy supervision to ensure that both client and art therapist needs are being met. There are no not-for-profit organizations of its kind in the Aurora area, the State of Illinois and the entire Nation.
Specific community needs that we will be addressing and aim to solve include the following:
1. Access to High Quality & Affordable Art Therapy Programming
We will provide access to high quality and affordable art therapy programming for children, adolescents, adults and allied
professionals of all populations and groups, regardless of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin,
disability, veteran status, income level or any other status of condition protected by law.
2. Quality of Life
We will provide art therapy programming that will improve the quality of life of children, adolescents, adults and allied
professionals in Aurora. Depending upon individual, group, or organizational need, art therapy programming may provide but is
not limited to the following:
a. Empowerment and encouragement
b. Nonverbal expressive communication
c. A safe and expressive space to work on The Self (increase self-esteem, self-worth, self-love, self-respect and/or self-
awareness)
d. An expressive outlet to process, feel and embrace emotions
e. Support and validation
f. A safe and expressive space to connect/reconnect with life’s path
g. A safe and expressive space to explore and cultivate creativity
h. A safe and expressive space to increase connections, develop support systems and networks.
i. A safe and expressive space to restore and revitalize oneself
j. A safe and expressive place for you to Be
k. Development of coping strategies
3. Health and Overall Wellness
We will increase the overall health and wellness of children, adolescents, adults and allied professionals in Aurora by providing
holistic art therapy treatment that addresses biological, psychological, social and spiritual needs and tailoring art therapy
programming to best meet these needs.
4. Community Connections & Partnerships
We will increase the number of community connections and partnerships in Aurora.
5. Education about Art Therapy
We will educate the Aurora area about art therapy.
6. Art Therapy Support Services for Allied Professionals
We will provide supportive art therapy programming for allied professionals in Aurora.
7. Employment Opportunities
We will develop new employment opportunities for Art Therapists in Aurora.
8. Violence and Crime.
We will reduce overall violence in Aurora; an indirect result of art therapy programming.
9. Social Justice Inequities
We will provide an expressive voice that addresses social justice inequities we face in Aurora.
Specific community needs that we will be addressing and aim to solve include the following:
1. Access to High Quality & Affordable Art Therapy Programming
We will provide access to high quality and affordable art therapy programming for children, adolescents, adults and allied
professionals of all populations and groups, regardless of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin,
disability, veteran status, income level or any other status of condition protected by law.
2. Quality of Life
We will provide art therapy programming that will improve the quality of life of children, adolescents, adults and allied
professionals in Aurora. Depending upon individual, group, or organizational need, art therapy programming may provide but is
not limited to the following:
a. Empowerment and encouragement
b. Nonverbal expressive communication
c. A safe and expressive space to work on The Self (increase self-esteem, self-worth, self-love, self-respect and/or self-
awareness)
d. An expressive outlet to process, feel and embrace emotions
e. Support and validation
f. A safe and expressive space to connect/reconnect with life’s path
g. A safe and expressive space to explore and cultivate creativity
h. A safe and expressive space to increase connections, develop support systems and networks.
i. A safe and expressive space to restore and revitalize oneself
j. A safe and expressive place for you to Be
k. Development of coping strategies
3. Health and Overall Wellness
We will increase the overall health and wellness of children, adolescents, adults and allied professionals in Aurora by providing
holistic art therapy treatment that addresses biological, psychological, social and spiritual needs and tailoring art therapy
programming to best meet these needs.
4. Community Connections & Partnerships
We will increase the number of community connections and partnerships in Aurora.
5. Education about Art Therapy
We will educate the Aurora area about art therapy.
6. Art Therapy Support Services for Allied Professionals
We will provide supportive art therapy programming for allied professionals in Aurora.
7. Employment Opportunities
We will develop new employment opportunities for Art Therapists in Aurora.
8. Violence and Crime.
We will reduce overall violence in Aurora; an indirect result of art therapy programming.
9. Social Justice Inequities
We will provide an expressive voice that addresses social justice inequities we face in Aurora.
