Sitting alone, she had that "you don't want to come near me" look in her eyes. Young women were laying out their brushes, paints and canvases preparing for the day's art program as part of ArtSafe's first Resiliency through the Arts program at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Like the others, she was a juvenile incarcerated in Ohio's adult prison system.

Although Sheena thought getting in touch with feelings and art “was a crock,” we soon learned she was a talented writer and gifted painter. The other young women, noticing her talents, began to overcome their reticence and started asking her advice and assistance in creating their art. Slowly Sheena responded, coming out from behind her defenses and sharing her talents. Her gifts were valued and in the sharing she felt a new sense of self-worth.

In the program's second year, Sheena became an artist's assistant, helping the new participants and program artist Suanne Goings in the workshop presentations.

Three days after her release in May '04, Sheena called ArtSafe from her home in Toledo. She was applying to Lourdes College and wanted to come to our office in Columbus to photograph the art she created in our program to include in her admissions application.  

In June, Sheena called to say she was enrolled in college, had a Pell Grant and was working two part-time jobs. Through the summer and fall Sheena stayed in touch through e-mail, sending photos of the new art she was creating.

On a Sunday morning in February '05, an e-mail from Sheena arrived in the inbox of Stephen Canneto, ArtSafe's executive director. "I'm on the Dean's List with a 4.0 average and getting credit in Sociology and Art for the work I did in ArtSafe's program."

Today Sheena is a member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees.