Life Pieces To Masterpieces has identified effective, innovative, and replicable strategies that have resulted in a dramatic improvement of the early childhood and youth development experiences of young, under served, African American males living in Washington, D.C. Their system is the foundation of an arts-based curriculum which guides all of their programming. Since 1996 they have served more than 600 boys and young men and created more than 1,000 masterpieces.
Mary Brown is the co-founder and Executive Director of Life Pieces To Masterpieces, Inc., and has been with the organization since 1996. Ms.Brown graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans and has worked with low-income youth for over 20 years.She has received plenty awards throughout her career, including the Mayor’s Spirit of Neighborhood Action Award, the Agusta Savage Arts Leadership Award, a Community Service Award from the Monica Davis Show, and an Outstanding Youth Educator Award from the See Forever Foundation. She also serves on the Board of Directors for a number of organizations including the Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, Fair Chance DC, Leadership Greater Washington and the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. In addition to her work with Life Pieces, Mary is also a Training Consultant with Neighborworks America.
Their range of programs all come together in order to create the masterpieces of the future. A few of them include
The Academic/Education Program which engages all apprentices in rigorous homework assistance, tutoring, literacy training, math skill development, and computer training on a daily basis.
The Arts/Creative Expression Program which was designed specifically to engage apprentices on a weekly basis in a creative process: Connecting, Creating, Contributing and Celebrating. The program guides apprentices to channel their life experiences using the creation of acrylic collage paintings, original poetry, prose, oratory, movement/dance, and music. The creations are then shared with a broader audience. This program continues to strengthen as we add new artists who bring their own unique artistic styles to the experience.
To learn more about this phenomenal organization visit www.lifepieces.org.
