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We are Paint Love

We empower kids through art

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Our Mission

Paint Love brings extraordinary arts programming to youth facing poverty and trauma.

 

Our Vision

We envision a world where all young people have access to creative experiences that empower them to imagine a future not limited by adverse experience.

 

 

How We Do It

Art is our vehicle, but the soul of our work is showing children that their voice matters, their ideas are important, and their actions can make a difference in shaping the future.

 

Who We Serve

We partner with educational and nonprofit organizations to engage youth, through projects that are artist-led, to empower conversations guided by trauma-informed standards.

Our Partners →

 
 
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Atlanta artist Julie McKevitt started Paint Love in 2014 with a mission rooted in direct response to three challenges she saw in our community:

  1. Youth facing poverty or trauma greatly benefit from creative outlets, but often have the least access to artistic programming,

  2. Schools and organizations serving these youth are pressed to meet their core needs and often lack the resources to provide creative experiences, and

  3. Many artists want to use their talents to serve and give back but do not have the time or support to find and plan service opportunities.

Want to learn more about Paint Love’s impact?

Check out our 2024 Annual Report →

Check out our 2023 Annual Report →

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Laura Shaw

Executive Director

Growing up as a ballet dancer, and later teaching dance in schools, Laura fell in love with the transformative power of art and sought to find innovative ways to incorporate imaginative and creative opportunities into the lives of young people.

Laura earned her master’s degree at Boston University focusing on an interdisciplinary study of social justice. She holds several yoga teacher certifications, and with deep experience in the arts, community engagement, and nonprofit management from Boston to San Francisco, she joined the Paint Love team in 2016 and became Executive Director in 2019.

MAndy Noa

Program Director

Mandy believes all the best things in life are a little messy - hands should be covered in paint, legs in dirt, and faces in pizza sauce.

She holds a master’s degree in Social Work and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of GA. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and has numerous certifications utilizing play and arts including Trauma and Grief Component Therapy (TGCT) and AutPlay. She first joined the Paint Love team as a volunteer in 2016 and became a paid Teaching Artist in 2018. After 8 years as a school social worker at three Title 1 schools in the Cobb County school system, Mandy transitioned into her role as Program Director with Paint Love full-time in 2022.

Robin Deutsch Edwards

Director of Philanthropy + Communication

Robin’s two kids say she’s never met a wall she didn’t think deserved a mural. While her childhood dream of becoming a globe-trotting muralist took a different path, she found her way into the arts through board service and community work.

She holds a master’s in Nonprofit Management from New York University and brings 20+ years of experience leading marketing/ communication and partnerships for large multinational companies, global NGOs, start-up social ventures and campaigns, and professional roles in every sector. She joined the Paint Love staff full-time in 2024.

 

Erika Hawkins

Program Staff Artist

Erika holds degrees from University of North Carolina in psychology and a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She loves hanging out with friends, spending time outdoors, exploring new places, and being creative through art and music. 

She has loved art since she was a little kid and it has always been her favorite creative outlet and way to de-stress. She loves that her work with Paint Love lets her combine her love of art and her education as a counselor and gives her the chance to help others be creative and find new ways of expressing themselves. She joined the Paint Love staff in 2024.

Leah Kellaway

Mural Coordinator
Program Staff Artist

Leah is an artist, illustrator, designer, and educator. She creates expressive work that focuses on themes of character and portraiture, everyday magic and adventure, and inspiration and empowerment. She holds an BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia and a BFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford.

She has worked independently and collaboratively to solve a multitude of visual problems, before founding her creative services business – Kellaway Creative Collaborative – in 2023. After being a member of the Paint Love Artist Cohort, she joined the staff in 2023.

Marquita Williams

Studio + Operations Coordinator
Program Staff Artist

Marquita is passionate about creating affirmative art that encourages hope in young people. She enjoys musical theatre, late night drives and rainy days. She is also a freelance visual artist.

She studied Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Atlanta, holds a degree in Psychology from Clayton State, and desires to become a Speech Pathologist specializing in Communication Disorder. She joined the Paint Love team in 2022.

 
 

Michelle Wood

Artist + Project Coordinator
Program Staff Artist, Photographer

Michelle loves videogames, cosplay, and art of all kinds! Her outfit is not complete without dog hair and some paint splatter stains.

She is a freelance photographer, with her Bachelor's in photography from the Art Institute of Atlanta. When she's not capturing images, you can find her exploring new Atlanta parks on nature walks with her dog Hercules, or trying to hunt down the yummiest darkest chocolate. She joined the Paint Love team in 2022.

Olivia Abie

Program Staff Artist

Olivia is a filmmaker with a passion for poetry, collage and documentary films.

 Through her art she aspires to cultivate optimism and hope while showcasing her multicultural heritage. 

Olivia studied international affairs and political science and is currently working toward her MFA in digital film making from Georgia State University. She joined the Paint Love team in 2023.

 
 

Staff headshots by Michelle at Elle Wood Photography

 

Board of Directors


Venessa Bines-Truitt
Regional Coordinator, DeKalb County Board of Education

Amy Clarke
Board Vice-Chair

Director of Community Impact, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Chris Ford
Senior Project Officer, US Forestry Service

 

Jermaine Fraser-Haughton
Board Treasurer

Director of Finance and Accounting, Seneca Resources

Beckie Hawkins
Deputy Director, Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs, City of Roswell, GA

Cara Hergenroether
Board Chair

Former attorney, Community Volunteer

 
Steve Pomberg Atlanta Paint Love board of directors

Steve Pomberg
Owner/Managing Director of Specialized Printing, INC.

Renée Wilson-Simmons, DrPH
Founder & CEO, The Nonprofit Strategist

Brandon Roldan
Board Secretary
Privacy Program Manager, Meta