As you will see from Nicole’s feature, she is passionate about helping people...making a difference.  Nicole describes herself as a writer, advocate, collaborator, traveller, story-teller, and social artist.  I definitely feel that those words all fit her well.  She really started on this path as a senior in high school, and naturally moved forward from there.  Nicole has a goal of changing the stigma around homelessness, and hosts Community Art Days twice a year (November and March) to help facilitate that change.  These Days are a way for volunteers and homeless artists to create together, rather than homeless artists solely being provided something.  Volunteers work alongside homeless artists in music, theatre, creative writing, and visual art (collaborative art) projects, and come away with more of an appreciation for each other’s place in life.  We have different experiences that inform our stories in unique ways, but deep down, we are all the same.  Yes, Nicole is definitely a social artist.

Nicole started the Poverty and the Arts programs in 2011, and currently connects with Turnip Green Creative Reuse to provide homeless artists with free access to a studio.  When artists sell their work, 75% of the proceeds go to the artist, and 25% to the studio.  In providing this value to the artists, Nicole not only gives them a way to be creative, but also help themselves.  She is currently looking into ways to help the artists further by providing a way to sell their works online.  Also, in November, there will again be an option to sponsor new and returning artists in the Adopt a Homeless Artist program!