Getting to Know Kristin

With your abundance of experience in the nonprofit world, what excites you most about coming into an organization based on artistic activism? 

Where to start? There are many things that excite me … I love the idea that our collective and individual creativity can yield systemic change! I love that LOA is a startup nonprofit with a good deal of existing thought, structure and volunteerism at its foundation. I love that I get to learn constantly about artistic expression, fabrication, modalities I never imagined, therapeutic art practices, and…SO much more. I love the incredible group of LOA staff and volunteers who make this all possible. I love watching Tracy Ferron’s face light up when she collaborates with another artist. So much magic.

In the next year, what is your vision for Life On Art and its growth as a nonprofit?

Our first priority is to build a strong, connected, and joyful donor base to ensure our success as an organization. LOA has been so lucky in the past as a recipient of some large one-time grants. It is time to draw in a larger group of funders at all levels to ensure our sustainability in the future.

My second priority will be codifying LOA’s programmatic work, measuring impact, and ensuring that we have the right resources to meet our mission and organizational goals.

As an umbrella over these bigger goals, I want to honor and leverage the great community building work that LOA staff has already done. I am blown away by the fact that 1,500 people collaboratively created Unbound! This is a testament to the work and healing potential, but it is really a tribute to the staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to do something special together.

In your experience, how have you seen  the power of community for positive change?

One of my first nonprofit roles was as a volunteer for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. I served on their AIDS Hotline for many years and became a Crew Manager for (more than 20)  AIDSRides and AIDS Lifecycles. Volunteers and donors worked tirelessly and busted stereotypes and stigma, promoted education, advocated for federal funding and changes to FDA drug approval regulations, and so much more. Equally important, we created a community of caring people who looked after one another. We changed the culture of our community for good.

I also met my husband on an AIDSRide. I knew he was a good one because he was part of that caring community. It absolutely changed my life.