Atlanta artist Julie McKevitt started Paint Love in 2014 with a mission rooted in direct response to three challenges she saw in our community:

1. Youth facing poverty or trauma greatly benefit from creative outlets, but often have the least access to artistic programming,

2. Schools and organizations serving these youth are pressed to meet their core needs and often lack the resources to provide creative experiences, and

3. Many artists want to use their talents to serve and give back but do not have the time or support to find and plan service opportunities.

Paint Love is a nonprofit organization bringing extraordinary arts programming to schools and nonprofit partners, empowering kids through creative projects that are artist-led and shaped by trauma-informed standards.

Paint Love envisions a world where all young people have access to creative experiences that empower them to imagine a future not limited by adverse experiences. In it’s first ten years (2014-2024), Paint Love served more than 40,000 young people together with 150+ school, nonprofit and community partners.

In 2019, Julie stepped down as executive director and has been a cheerleader and community advocate for Paint Love’s work here in Georgia and beyond. Laura Shaw has taken over as Executive Director and has led Paint Love to grow and impact thousands of students a year.

Visit Paint Love’s website here.