By Sofia Suarez, ASU Piper Student Leader Volunteer
Beth Blue Swadener or Miss Beth (or Nana Beth), as she likes to go by with the kids, has been one of Cultural Coalition’s devoted volunteers for the past four years. She works with the After School Arts Program that Cultural Coalition facilitates for residents at the El Rancho del Arte low-income housing complex in downtown Mesa. Many children, grades kindergarten through high school, come to this program, as it is a space made for them to relax, create art, enjoy an afterschool snack, or get homework assistance.
When you walk into the program classroom, the walls and cabinets are covered with artwork made by the kids, the tables have markers sprawled out and music can be heard playing softly. They have a raised bed in the community garden as well that teaches the children about growing one’s own food in a place where it might seem impossible like an apartment complex in Arizona. This environment has been made possible by the incredible Teaching Artists who have worked there many years, and every volunteer has brought their own flair, including Beth.
Beth’s story is inspirational to say the least, as her background is in early childhood education and she has worked in many projects around the world, including in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya. She co-founded a nonprofit in Kenya called The Jirani Project, building on an arts-based program for street children that has sponsored over 45 children through high school graduation and into careers. . She has always been driven by how different countries provide for children and the importance of expressive arts in children’s lives.Although she has retired from her teaching position in ASU, she is an active member of Local to Global Justice at ASU. Her experience, values and love of her work seeps through as children in f the After School Arts Program come up to her to show her their art. That is what first drew her to Cultural Coalition’s program. Many of the kids, even after they have grown up and graduated, come back to say hi. She has become like a grandmother figure to these children and it shows.
One of Beth’s most memorable moments working at the After School Arts Program was with a kindergarten boy who would make little books with her. She told me how many hours they would spend drawing and putting these stories together. The hours spent creating stories and exploring art have inspired children to unlock their different creative abilities and Beth has been there to support them. She finds the connections with these youth is what keeps bringing her back to volunteering. When a young man who had been in the program since he was young graduated high school last year, she organized a party and loves organizing special activities.
As she states: “Work here is not so much teaching as facilitating. One of the things that I love about the program is that it is child-led!”. This is truly at the heart of Cultural Coalition’s After School Arts Program, which provides an engaging outlet to guide their own creative expression – something Beth has always advocated.. She is foundational to the program and her commitment shines through the ways the kids interact with one another. Seeing the children flourish and learning from the excellent teachers there is what motivates her to keep coming back after so many years.
