BOOST Network Member Profile
Since launching in 1988, Creative Kids has transformed the lives of thousands of young people with its nationally recognized visual arts curricula. Through a suite of programs tailored to connect with different youth, Creative Kids helps children in and around El Paso -especially those struggling with an illness, disadvantage, or disability -express themselves, develop valuable life skills, and connect with others through art.
Over the years Creative Kids has received many honors, including being recognized as a national best practice model by the National Endowment of the Arts, and receiving the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities’ Youth Program Award from then-First Lady Michelle Obama. But the real proof of our success can be found right here in El Paso: in art displayed at local galleries, metro bus stops, in permanent sculptures, and most of all, in the children and adults across our community who grew in confidence, creativity, and courage after participating in their our programs.
The BOOST Network has opened up new opportunities for Creative Kids and allowed us to broaden our impact. Since joining the network in 2015, we have partnered and collaborated with several BOOST members and funders, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of El Paso, the United Way of El Paso County, and PdDNHF’s Healthy Kids Initiative. BOOST has helped Creative Kids identify additional participants and volunteers for our programs and to reached communities that hadn’t previously participated in our workshops. From 2016-2019, I was afforded the opportunity to serve as the Founding Chair of the BOOST Network, where I worked with the steering committee and provided much-needed resources to our members.
“When we joined, I knew the BOOST Network would give us a chance to share best practices and grow as an organization. I didn’t appreciate at the time how invaluable its member resources would be. The BOOST library gives us access to first-rate curated content, like tips on opening during the COVID-19 pandemic. It helps us to do our job better, so we can give kids the tools they need to grow into confident, capable, and well-rounded individuals.” -- Andrea Gates-Ingle, Creative Kids Executive Director.