Celebrating and Thanking Our Community!
A two-day event was held in December to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the William James Association and the 46th anniversary of the Prison Arts Project. The event was full of art workshops, delicious food, networking, great music, and joyful faces. The first day included art workshops in block printing, paper arts (paper folding), mixed-media collages, and writing. Introductions, check-ins, and appreciation for teaching artists, alums, students, site coordinators, donors, board members, and arts supporters were a part of the event. In the evening, a band of alumni, teaching artists, and site coordinators performed, and Bill Cleveland and his sister delivered a beautiful song during an open mic session. Laurie Brooks, the Executive Director, was honored with a heartfelt video for her contributions to the field. Attendees reminisced about past classes, reconnected with old instructors, and captured the moments with photos and videos. They shared how arts programs had impacted and transformed their lives and reflected on the role of art in their lives. The second day continued with similar activities and discussions on the association’s future focus and possible amendments to its mission statement. Silkscreening of 50th Anniversary T-shirts by Terrance Johnson and Joey Reyes took place. The event was marked by appreciation, gratitude, community, laughter, warm hearts, inspiring and humbling moments, friendships, inclusion, and compassion. The event left lasting impressions, and all involved were eager to spread the positive energy with others, making it a truly fulfilling experienced by appreciation, gratitude, community, laughter, warm hearts, inspiring and humbling moments, friendships, inclusion, and compassion. The event left lasting impressions, and all involved were eager to spread the positive energy with others, making it a truly fulfilling experience.