For professional graphic designer Danielle Nishimi, our KidWorks University workshops are the perfect way to share her passion for art and to provide a vehicle for our students to express their creative sides.
Our November “Volunteer of the Month” has been leading art workshops for our middle school students for over four years. Danielle’s also been a volunteer with us for eight years, serving as a mentor and helping at our Christmas Store.
KidWorks University workshops support our belief that it is important to provide students with a wide range of activities that allow them to discover their own interests and talents.
Danielle is among the volunteers who lead workshops that allow students to take part in fun, energetic, hands-on experiences that focus on art, science, dance, creative writing and more.
Moreover, Danielle and her art workshops play a vital strategic role supporting our Program Success Strategies: Personal Development, College & Career Readiness and Leadership Development.
The focus of Danielle’s workshops is urban art.
“The kids request specific items for me to print out from the web each week,” Danielle says.
“This can include their favorite musicians, commercial brands and television characters. They cut them out and collage them onto wooden boards. During the concluding week of a workshop, I provide spray paint and stencils and we add the final ‘urban’ twist. In addition to the traditional collaging route, there are always blank canvases and acrylic paints for kids who are more independent and confident in free painting.”
“Magical” is how Rachel Cervantes, program leader at our Dan Donahue Center, describes the KidWorks University workshops that Danielle leads. Rachel is also our arts coordinator for KidWorks University.
“Danielle brings a very coveted sense of consistency to our programs,” Rachel says “She goes above and beyond to get the students any materials they request and is very intentional about speaking to every student in her class. It is this attention to detail, steadfast commitment and heart for our students that makes her so deserving of recognition as our Volunteer of the Month.”
Rachel shares a particularly poignant story about Danielle’s approach to always focus on each student as a unique person. “Celine, one of our students, is really reserved and shy,” Rachel says. “When she began attending KidWorks, she found it difficult to make connections with the other kids. After a few months of programs, Celine might have said but a whole sentence; she just did not speak and we respected that.”
Adds Rachel, “Two years ago, when it came time for KidWorks University sign ups, I noticed that Celine had selected the urban art workshop and wondered how she’d do in a group of really outgoing students. To my surprise, she clicked with Danielle right away. I believe it’s because Danielle did such a beautiful job befriending Celine. Danielle is the only person I know who gets Celine to speak and laugh! Danielle knows her better than anyone at KidWorks. Danielle saw that Celine is a talented artist—and she helped Celine to discover that, too. Celine has been part of each urban art workshop ever since.”
Danielle’s workshops, like all of our programs, have moved to a virtual on-line model during the pandemic. While Danielle says there is no substitute for in-person art classes, she’s learned to adapt.
“I like to see kids get totally lost in their work,” she says. “It’s refreshing and inspiring to see a kid completely forget about the outside world for a while and not be concerned with what others think.”
Adds Danielle, “The students are in charge of the art they create and you can see that confidence in their faces. The middle schoolers are so good at not looking around at each other for approval. High schoolers spend a lot more time checking out each other's work and they don’t take as many risks; that’s been the most interesting takeaway for me.”
As a creative person herself, Danielle sees herself as a guide, making sure there are no boundaries to restrict artistic expression.
“I took so many art classes as a kid and was so disillusioned with the structure, rules and schedules,” she says. “I always wanted a place where you could just make your own art. I try to treat each kid and their art uniquely. Having the ability to quickly print out and paste specific imagery onto a board takes a lot of the anxiety out of having to create from scratch, while still having the kids feel connected and responsible.”
Danielle says she sees firsthand how the environment and culture at KidWorks has a lasting positive impact on those enrolled in our programs.
“The students at KidWorks are some of the most generous and honorable people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing,” Danielle says. “They respect every paint brush and art supply, making the effort to go above and beyond by helping, cleaning and sharing what they’ve learned with their siblings. Working as a nanny I see the vast opportunity differences for children today, and it’s so refreshing and inspiring to be around kids who always see the positive in every situation, practice gratitude and never complain. I’m in awe and so proud of the character that’s developed and carried throughout KidWorks.”
In addition to her career as a graphic artist and nanny, Danielle also enjoys gardening, boxing at her local gym and backpacking with her dog, Chili.
The entire KidWorks’ team is deeply grateful for the dedicated way our November “Volunteer of the Month” shares her God-given talents with our students and helps them discover the creative “Danielle” within each of them.
By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer
