ENCOURAGING A
LIFELONG LOVE
OF THE ARTS
ELM Foundation is a non-profit organization in North Brooklyn with a mission to promote the healing power of the arts. Through art therapy advocacy, multidisciplinary education, and fostering sustaining mentorships, we aim to cultivate a lifelong love of self-expression and awareness in our youth and community.
OUR STORY
ELM Foundation was established in the name of Emma Lauren McCoy on February 20, 2019. Its creation was inspired by the realization that Emma was using art as a healing outlet during traumatic family upheaval. Her experience amid Parental International Kidnapping put her in a situation of no control, but her art became her voice. After Emma's mother and ELM Foundation founder fought through multiple countries to relieve Emma's trauma, it became clear that more negative energy was not the solution. Instead, ELM foundation was launched to produce positive energy and enrich the childhoods of many in Emma's honor through the healing power of art.
Initially, ELM Foundation focused on arts therapy for children navigating family restructuring. However, we soon recognized the broader needs of our community. As a result, we expanded our services to offer comprehensive arts education for all youth while fostering mentorships with professional teaching artists. Additionally, by involving our surrounding community with art events and gallery exhibitions, both professional and youth, we have created a home for all to explore the transformative power of art.
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Located on the border between the neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Greenpoint in North Brooklyn, ELM provides a wide range of free youth art classes and workshops, including innovative programs such as Steam Works with visiting artists, after-school sessions, and vibrant youth art exhibitions. Central to our mission is the advocacy for arts therapy, facilitated through free programming, artist mentorship, and engaging community events.
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At the heart of our community engagement is The Boiler, our adjacent exhibition space serving as a hub for artistic expression and mentorship opportunities. Proceeds from Boiler activities directly support ELM’s youth programs, ensuring equitable access to arts resources for all.
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Founder Melinda Riddle McCoy, drawing from a background in psychology and a deep passion for the arts, leads ELM Foundation with a vision that integrates advocacy for children’s rights and mental health development within a nurturing arts community. Her leadership validates the healing potential of creative expression, promoting personal growth and community transformation.
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Through inclusive programming and a steadfast commitment to our community, ELM Foundation fosters a sense of belonging, harnessing the arts as a powerful tool to empower individuals and heal communities. We provide a safe space and vital resources to support youth in exploring their emotions and expressing themselves creatively, promoting holistic development and resilience.
VISION
Our vision is to build, support, and celebrate community through art, fostering a world where every child has access to art as a transformative tool for healing, empowerment, and personal growth. We envision vibrant communities where artistic expression cultivates resilience, understanding, and a sense of belonging among individuals of all backgrounds.
Mending Hearts Through Art
ELM Foundation strives to achieve our Vision by advocating arts therapy, providing arts education, and building lifelong mentorships, all working harmoniously to bring awareness to The Healing Power of the Arts.
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ADVOCATING
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Our goal is to promote the benefits of arts therapy, especially for children who have experienced parental loss or family structure changes. We advocate for increased access to professional art therapists for these children. Through arts therapy, we aim to help them communicate and heal, fostering self-awareness and expression. By highlighting the effectiveness of arts therapy, we raise awareness of its potential to facilitate healing. Our focus on children underscores why the ELM Foundation was established.
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PROVIDING
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Our goal is to offer multidisciplinary arts education not only to children in our art therapy program but also to any child interested in exploring creativity. After completing arts therapy, we continue to engage with our youth, offering opportunities to explore various forms of artistic expression. Our general education programs are open to all young people passionate about art, reinforcing our belief in art as a healing process.
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BUILDING
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Our goal is to connect young people with the professional arts community, fostering long-term mentorships. We show them that art can be both personally enriching and a viable career path. Through our network of working artists, who actively engage with the community through workshops and talks, we provide our youth with mentors from the contemporary art world. These relationships are designed to inspire and guide them as they pursue their creative journeys
Our Team
Meet the passionate individuals who drive ELM Foundation's mission forward.
