Open Hearts Open Minds

Why wait until later to create the change you want to see?

While incarcerated, one participant shared that she hoped to start an art therapy group when she got out. She was asked a simple but powerful question:

“Why wait until you get out? Do it now.”

With encouragement and support from Open Hearts Open Minds, she turned that idea into action and helped start an art group at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.

Her story is a reminder that creativity is not something that has to wait for the “right” time or place. A blank page, a new idea, or a desire to help others can become the beginning of something meaningful.

At Open Hearts Open Minds, we believe people have the ability to create, lead, and inspire change wherever they are.

What is something you’ve been waiting to start?

💙 Every creative act has the power to spark another.
A former Open Hearts Open Minds participant recently appeared as an actor in a short film inspired by a story written in one of our writing classes at Columbia River Correctional Institution.

By lending their talent to the project, they helped bring a fellow participant's words to life while continuing to grow their own creative path.

That's the ripple effect of the arts. One story inspires another, and the impact reaches far beyond the classroom.

Thank you to the Oregon Arts Commission for supporting this work.

What does freedom look like?

For us, it isn't just about a release date. It's about discovering confidence, creativity, connection, and hope—one class at a time.

Every poem, every rehearsal, every song, and every painting is an opportunity for someone to see themselves in a new way.

That's the power of the arts.

❤️ If you believe everyone deserves the chance to grow, share this post to help spread our mission.

With gratitude to The Portland Clinic Foundation for helping make this programming possible.

I was given a notebook and homework assignments that taught me how to apply writing skills and lessons taught in class while I gained confidence in myself. I also was part of a play, something I've never done or thought I could do before. -Participant

A huge thank you to 21ten Theatre for inviting Open Hearts Open Minds to be part of today's street festival in Portland! We were honored to table at such a wonderful community event.

A special shoutout to Josh and Lauren for representing OHOM with such enthusiasm and heart. Thank you, 21ten Theatre, not only for welcoming us, but also for your generous donation and continued support of our mission. We truly appreciate your partnership and look forward to future opportunities to work together! ❤️

With Gresham Senior Center – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

Every class tells a story.

Not just through the art that's created, but through the people who discover new confidence, connection, and possibility along the way.

At Open Hearts Open Minds, we believe creativity can open doors that many thought were closed. Whether it's through theater, music, writing, or visual art, each class is an opportunity to learn, grow, and be seen.

Thank you for being part of this community and believing in the power of the arts to transform lives.

✨ Which slide resonated with you most? Tell us in the comments.

CRCI Fiction Writing

I've discovered that I will be happy writing in life. Something that I hadn't previously imagined. -Participant

I see myself as more ready to share my more personal & deeper thoughts. Also, I am not as fearful of criticism about what I write. -Participant

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Words have a way of opening doors that walls never can.

Inside our writing classes, people put pen to paper and discover something powerful: their own voice. Poems become conversations. Stories become connection. Blank pages become places to imagine, reflect, heal, and create.

At Open Hearts Open Minds, writing isn't just about learning to write. It's about being heard.

A lot happens before a performance, film, or concert ever reaches an audience.

There are hours of writing, practicing, learning, laughing, revising, and encouraging one another along the way.

That's where the real transformation happens.

We're grateful to everyone who makes these moments possible.