Art from Ashes is nonprofit in Denver that empowers struggling youth through poetry and other creative therapies that facilitate expression, connection and transformation. One of our volunteers donated $1,000 toward a contract with the Denver Venture School, which just opened in August 2008. Art from Ashes is a perfect organization to help the school and their students with their mission "to enable a diverse group of students to achieve academic, social, and career success."

Denver Venture School wants to secure an 80-workshop contract with Art from Ashes that will begin at the end of the year. We must find funding for the $72,000 cost. We are writing grants together to make this happen and this feels like a perfect time to tell you more about what Art from Ashes achieves in the hopes that you can help us benefit Denver Venture School and continue to transform and nourish youth in our community.

Art from Ashes greatly improves the outlooks of young people in Denver and surrounding communities. Our Phoenix Rising program, which combines 14 years of extensive research and work with struggling youth, allows participants -- poets -- to articulate painful events or circumstances in their young lives. We give our poets the ability to release the pain and fear of those experiences, and show them the power of strong, healthy words that encourage an identity that is not based in victimization.

One young woman who participated in Phoenix Rising this last winter said "I'm not expecting to change anybody's life with just one poem, but as long as I open their mind to the questions, then that's all that matters." She is Jay-Jay Davis, our Featured Youth Poet. She is 13 and admits that life is difficult in our age, especially with economic challenges. Jay-Jay attributes Art from Ashes as the primary force that has given her a more ambitious, positive attitude. By seeing herself as a poet who performs in her community, she feels her words are able to heal and improve the lives of other young people.

I hope that these words have influenced you to help Art from Ashes. Any form of support is most welcome and tax-exempt and you can view a short video capturing the power of one of our workshops and learn more about Jay-Jay and our work at artfromashes.org. Thank you so much for your consideration and please share this letter with any interested colleagues.