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Canvas of the Heart: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona
Canvas of the Heart is a podcast produced by Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona. This show describes the work and legacy of Free Arts' commitment to transform children's trauma to resilience through the transforming power of the arts. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Free Arts offers trained adult volunteer mentoring opportunities for children and teens who have experience abuse, neglect, and homelessness.
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- 4 weeks ago52 min
Foster
In this week's episode, host Matt sits down with staff member Marisa — Executive Project Manager and Board Liasion at Art Heals Arizona — to talk about the years-long, behind-the-scenes work of building an organization where everyone has what they need to thrive. They dig into what it really means to foster belonging, how staff and volunteers are learning with the communities they serve, and why doing that work out loud — mistakes and all — matters more than waiting until everything is perfect. This is a conversation about people caring for people. About building a culture rooted in respect, honest dialogue, and values that show up not just in a mission statement — but in the day-to-day. If you've ever wanted to pull back the curtain on how a mission-driven nonprofit shapes its culture from the inside out, this one's for you.
- May 12, 202653 min
Stronger Than You Think - An Interview with Sherry Hamby
What if everything we thought we knew about resilience was only part of the story? In this episode of Canvas of the Heart, host Matt Sandoval sits down with Dr. Sherry Hamby — distinguished research professor, clinical psychologist, and author of the forthcoming book Stronger Than You Think (May 26, 2026) — for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to heal from trauma and adversity. Dr. Hamby shares how her work in rural Appalachia, on the San Carlos Apache reservation, and with survivors of domestic violence taught her that the people our systems most often underestimate are frequently the ones working hardest to find a way forward. Drawing on decades of research, she walks us through the resilience portfolio model — a framework built around four domains of strength: meaning making, regulatory skills, interpersonal relationships, and physical environment — and explains why real healing rarely looks like toughing it out alone. Together, Matt and Dr. Hamby explore the concept of poly-victimization (why cumulative trauma exposure matters more than any single event), why creative expression belongs at the center of trauma recovery rather than on its margins, and what "trauma-informed care" actually requires of organizations that claim it. This conversation touches the heart of what Art Heals Arizona does every day — meeting people where they are, building on what they already bring, and trusting that a good life is possible. Topics covered: Resilience portfolio model · Deficit lens vs. strengths-based approaches · Poly-victimization and cumulative trauma · Art, music, and creative expression as healing tools · Trauma-informed vs. healing-centered systems · Institutional betrayal · Access to healing outside formal services Connect with Dr. Hamby: Life Paths Research Center or her Book: Stronger Than You Think — available May 26, 2026 Sherry Hamby's website: https://lifepathsresearch.org/ Substack: https://substack.com/@sherryhamby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherry-hamby/
- Mar 11, 202628 min
Art Heals Arizona!
For 30 years, we've put the words "abused children" on our letterhead, our emails, our collateral — including the materials our own participants could see. This episode of Canvas of the Heart is about why that had to change. Board President Coree Neumeyer joins Matt to talk about the rebrand from Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona to Art Heals Arizona — and why now was the time. But there's a moment in this conversation that stopped us cold. Coree was prepping for the podcast, and her son — unprompted, no context — said the first thing that came to his mind: "The name probably doesn't make the children feel very good." That's it. That's the whole argument. A kid said in ten seconds what took us years to fully act on. Same mission. 7,000 children a year. 300+ volunteers. A name that finally tells the truth. #ArtHealsAz #NonprofitLeadership #CanvasOfTheHeart #Rebrand About the Show Canvas of the Heart is the podcast of Art Heals Arizona, where we explore what it actually looks like when art changes a life. Hosted by CEO, Matt Sandoval, each episode goes inside the work — talking with the artists, mentors, staff, volunteers, and community members who show up for children who've experienced more than their share of heartbreak. We talk about the mission and tell the stories that live inside it. Art Heals Arizona connects children with caring adult mentors and creative experiences that build resilience, identity, and the belief that they can make something. We've been doing this work for over 30 years, across Phoenix, Tucson, and throughout Arizona. If you're new here, welcome. If you've been with us a while, you already know — art heals. Find us at arthealsaz.org and follow us @arthealsaz.
- Apr 25, 202530 min
Self-care Spotlight: Navigating our Inner world
This episode is a solo journey into thoughts, feelings, and taking perspective on our lives that support our growth and transformation. About Free Arts: Free Arts’ research-based program model, Art + Mentors = Resilience, helps children build the resilience they need to maintain personal well-being by connecting them with caring adults and creative activities that develop their personal skills and sense of self. Free Arts believes that healthy connections with adults create change. Through partnerships with local child welfare agencies and shelters serving families, Free Arts is able to provide this intervention to children free of cost to program participants. To become a Free Arts Volunteer Mentor, please visit FreeArtsAZ.org/Volunteer About Canvas of the Heart: Hosted by Matt Sandoval, CEO of Free Arts Produced by Alvaro Morello Music by Epidemic sound: Tell ‘em no by Flux Vortex, Free Throw by Timothy Infinite Contact the podcast at hello@freeartsaz.org Follow us at Youtube.com/FreeArtsofArizona Facebook.com/freeartsaz Instagram: @freeartsaz Twitter @freeartsaz You can make your donations to Free Arts at FreeArtsAz.org/Donate
- Mar 21, 202536 min
Interview: Dr. Bianca Harper Director of ASU's Arizona Child and Adolescent Survivor Initiative
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Bianca Harper, director of ASU's Arizona Child and Adolescent Survivor Initiative (ACASI), whose mission is to foster the healing of intimate partner violence survivors. She walks us through the program's holistic approach to healing and the power of overcoming the stigma around these issues. Perhaps nowhere is the incredible healing power of art better personified than at the vigil ceremony hosted by ACASI and Free Arts, where families honored the memories of their loved ones through art, music, poetry, and storytelling. Free Arts’ research-based program model, Art + Mentors = Resilience, helps children build the resilience they need to maintain personal well-being by connecting them with caring adults and creative activities that develop their personal skills and sense of self. Free Arts believes that healthy connections with adults create change. Through partnerships with local child welfare agencies and shelters serving families, Free Arts is able to provide this intervention to children free of cost to program participants. To become a Free Arts Volunteer Mentor, please visit FreeArtsAZ.org/Volunteer Hosted by Matt Sandoval, CEO of Free Arts Produced by Alvaro Morello Music by Epidemic sound: Tell ‘em No by Flux Vortex, Free Throw by Timothy Infinite Contact the podcast at hello@freeartsaz.org Follow us at: Youtube.com/FreeArtsofArizona Facebook.com/freeartsaz Instagram: @freeartsaz Twitter @freeartsaz You can make your donations to Free Arts at FreeArtsAz.org/Donate
- Feb 14, 202534 min
Artist Spotlight - Kris Kollasch
In this episode of Canvas of the Heart, we sit down with Kris Kollasch, an artist who has been involved with Free Arts nearly since our inception 30+ years ago. She shares some of her favorite artist mentorship moments over the years, including the creation of the iconic “Trees Like Me” murals with student participants and fellow artist Linda Pullinsi. She also shares her perspective on the significance of trees in her art—and our logo—as symbols of strength, growth and grounding. Musing on the healing nature of our work, Kris shares that “Art heals. We are not therapists, but making art is therapeutic Free Arts’ research-based program model, Art + Mentors = Resilience, helps children build the resilience they need to maintain personal well-being by connecting them with caring adults and creative activities that develop their personal skills and sense of self. Free Arts believes that healthy connections with adults create change. Through partnerships with local child welfare agencies and shelters serving families, Free Arts is able to provide this intervention to children free of cost to program participants. To become a Free Arts Volunteer Mentor, please visit FreeArtsAZ.org/Volunteer Hosted by Matt Sandoval, CEO of Free Arts Produced by Alvaro Morello Music by Epidemic sound: Tell ‘em no by Flux Vortex, Free Throw by Timothy Infinite Contact the podcast at hello@freeartsaz.org Follow us at Youtube.com/FreeArtsofArizona Facebook.com/freeartsaz Instagram: @freeartsaz Twitter @freeartsaz You can make your donations to Free Arts at FreeArtsAz.org/Donate
- Jan 20, 202548 min
Mentor Voices - Listening to the Experiences of Volunteers
January is National Mentoring Month, and we are celebrating the work of volunteer mentors by listening to two mentors' experiences. Free Arts’ research-based program model, Art + Mentors = Resilience, helps children build the resilience they need to maintain personal well-being by connecting them with caring adults and creative activities that develop their personal skills and sense of self. Free Arts believes that healthy connections with adults create change. Through partnerships with local child welfare agencies and shelters serving families, Free Arts is able to provide this intervention to children free of cost to program participants. To become a Free Arts Volunteer Mentor, please visit FreeArtsAZ.org/Volunteer Hosted by Matt Sandoval, CEO of Free Arts Produced by Alvaro Morello Music by Epidemic sound: Tell ‘em no by Flux Vortex, Free Throw by Timothy Infinite Contact the podcast at hello@freeartsaz.org Follow us at Youtube.com/FreeArtsofArizona Facebook.com/freeartsaz Instagram: @freeartsaz Twitter @freeartsaz You can make your donations to Free Arts at FreeArtsAz.org/Donate
- Dec 20, 202444 min
Regulation and Co-Regulation Skills for Children and Families
Join Matt and Erina as they discuss the Free Arts Family Program, regulation, and co-regulation. Erina gives a brief overview of the history of the Family Program and how it has grown in the past three years and what a Family Empowerment Night looks like. We wanted to share this episode during the holiday season because it can often be a deregulating time for a lot of individuals. Matt and Erina share some amazing art-based examples about how to both regulate and co-regulate - perhaps you will learn some techniques you can try during the next few weeks. You can listen to it on YouTube or your favorite streaming platform! Free Arts (www.freeartsaz.org) is an Arizona nonprofit organization that uses the power of the arts to help children who have experienced the trauma of abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Free Arts’ research-based program model, Art + Mentors = Resilience, helps children build the resilience they need to overcome trauma by connecting them with caring adults and creative activities that develop their skills and sense of self. Free Arts believes that healthy connections with adults create change. Through partnerships with local child welfare agencies, Free Arts is able to provide this intervention to children free of cost to program participants. To become a Free Arts Volunteer Mentor, please visit FreeArtsAZ.org/Volunteer Hosted by Matt Sandoval, CEO of Free Arts Produced by Alvaro Morello Music by Epidemic sound: Tell ‘em no by Flux Vortex, Free Throw by Timothy Infinite Contact the podcast at hello@freeartsaz.org Follow us at Youtube.com/FreeArtsofArizona Facebook.com/freeartsaz Instagram: @freeartsaz Twitter @freeartsaz You can make your donations to Free Arts at FreeArtsAz.org/Donate
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About Canvas of the Heart
Canvas of the Heart is a podcast produced by Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona. This show describes the work and legacy of Free Arts' commitment to transform children's trauma to resilience through the transforming power of the arts. Based in Phoenix, AZ, Free Arts offers trained adult volunteer mentoring opportunities for children and teens who have experience abuse, neglect, and homelessness.
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