Two Laguna Beach nonprofits, Glennwood House and Laguna Outreach for Community Arts (LOCA), are enriching lives through an innovative collaboration. Below is a guest entry from KC Mechling and Carla Meberg of LOCA.
Laguna Outreach for Community Arts is a non-profit organization that has provided art education services to the community of Laguna Beach for 22 years. The Glennwood Housing Foundation was founded in 2009 by a group of hopeful individuals who have children or friends with physical and developmental disabilities as a 501(c) 3 non-profit foundation. The Mission of Glennwood House is to provide a loving and unique housing community for young adults with developmental disabilities that will enhance the quality of their lives.
LOCA's vision is that the residents have unsurpassed opportunities for social growth, emotional fulfillments, enhanced dignity and quality through assisted independence.
LOCA has been providing a monthly program at Glennwood since June 19, 2014. In January of 2015 the program expanded to two times per month. These sessions have been a big success and the residents and staff would love to increase the program frequency.
These sessions of art instruction to residents have enriched their lives intellectually, creatively, and socially. LOCA’s hands-on art classes provide additional opportunities for residents to give back to their families and to Glennwood for their living expenses through the art projects they make for family gifts and through Glennwood fundraisers.
This program allows opportunities to students who show interest and want to further their artistic skills. Additionally LOCA hopes to establish opportunities for Glennwood residents to exhibit and sell their art through galleries, Festival of the Arts, and retail sales.
Glennwood LOCA artwork raised $5,000 this year for their fundraiser. This is art the residents made in their LOCA classes. They made 35 Sculptures for the centerpieces, 15 mono prints, 15 ceramic bowls, two wall hangings, and one framed painting.
LOCA is currently looking to expand their program with Glennwood House to offer weekly art lessons filling in the other two weeks with music, dance and drama instruction. They will be looking for volunteers with theatrical expertise and are needing additional funding to support their weekly lessons. To see a calendar of local events and learn more about other LOCA partnerships, visit their website here: http://www.locaarts.org
Glennwood LOCA artwork raised $5,000 this year for their fundraiser. This is art the residents made in their LOCA classes. They made 35 Sculptures for the centerpieces, 15 mono prints, 15 ceramic bowls, two wall hangings, and one framed painting.
LOCA is currently looking to expand their program with Glennwood House to offer weekly art lessons filling in the other two weeks with music, dance and drama instruction. They will be looking for volunteers with theatrical expertise and are needing additional funding to support their weekly lessons. To see a calendar of local events and learn more about other LOCA partnerships, visit their website here: http://www.locaarts.org
