Arielle Grant

For the last several years, I have been employed as a Director of Events and Volunteers, encouraging and empowering over 60 African American students and over 200 volunteers through mentoring and teaching. This organization seeks to inspire our students through leadership programs, tutoring, intentional conversation, job training and extracurricular activities.

Being connected to this work inspired me to investigate the disparity of resources and opportunity in my city. I committed myself to learn about this country’s history and the forms in which racism still exist in our world today. Learning about generations of injustice was not only intellectually rigorous but as a black woman, I found myself psychologically exhausted. To practice self-care, I turned to art.

For the last several years, I have created pencil, graphite, watercolor and acrylic artwork. My passion is cultivating images that reflect the beauty of black bodies. My most public work was a 10x12 foot mural featured in the community center in which I once served. This piece included eighteen subjects, and holds a special place in my heart. My hope is that students will see this work and, in turn, see themselves.

I recently joined an Adoption and Family Service Organization as an Education Specialist. My role in this position is to invite transracial parents into the conversation of race as they move through the adoption process. Additionally, I create and lead events, training, and curriculum that equip these parents to raise African American children. As I partake in this important but difficult work, I find my need to engage in life-giving activities necessary.

Through art, I also take responsibility in creating the art and literature that I invite all families to fill their homes with. I deeply believe representation matters.