My Permission Canvas represents “Permission to Succeed.”

I started having hearing trouble when I was a teen, and I was always made fun of because of it. I was “the deaf girl.” I went totally deaf about 8 years ago and it was devastating. Fortunately, I was able to receive bilateral AB Cochlear implants, to help with my hearing. 

Once you are hearing impaired you must also rely on lipreading. When the pandemic hit, I had to leave the teaching profession. I couldn’t read lips through solid masks. 

The AWBW scholarship gave me a chance to open a nonprofit company called Wichita Artworx, Inc. and most importantly it gave me the chance to start over. I work in a lot of rural settings. When victims of generational abuse and victims of gender discrimination live in a rural setting there is often no place for teens and adults to go to, to receive help. 

Though Wichita Artworx I want them to feel like they are not alone, and that art can help them. I plan to reach people that live in rural Kansas communities that have no access to mental health care. I plan to help areas of low economic income in the Wichita, KS area: adults that are depressed, stressed, lonely and anyone recovering from loss or lifestyle changes because of the Covid 19 pandemic. 

I would like them to see how they can utilize their art to make themselves feel better, more independent and help them to develop a positive self-esteem.