On April 21st, the Outreach Committee held a workshop at Fulton Collective entitled Expose Yourself: Move past the fear and learn to create connectivity as an Art Therapist. The workshop covered methods of exposure and awareness for art therapists, including: how to run an in-service within a community or organization, resources for grant writing and building a website, making yourself marketable as an art therapist, and how to network with other professionals. During the three-hour experiential, participants received hands-on training in delivering their elevator spiel, promoting their profession and their art therapy identity, developing plans for future in-services, and brainstorming and connecting with peers. To receive your own Expose Yourself Learning Kit, please contact amysmethurst@gmail.com.

This spring IATA was involved in the Cupcakes and a Cause event in Highland Park.  This enjoyable event was hosted at Hoffman High School and raised community awareness for autism. Thousands of cupcakes donated by local bakers and families were sold to raise money for programs, such as Autism Speaks, that support individuals with autism. There was a large turnout to the event, along with an exciting interest in the art making and information provided by IATA. Many families within the Chicagoland school districts traveled to support this cause and participate in the event. In addition to the wide selection of cupcakes, artistic performances by children’s dance teams and choirs provided entertainment. Two IATA student representatives provided the event attendees with the opportunity to engage in an art making activity, that included mandala making, and with information about art therapy and the IATA chapter. The IATA table was a hit among the families. Hoffman High allowed the artwork that was created at the event to remain displayed in the school cafeteria.