Meet the Member: Spark A Life with Art

Interviewee:

Lauren Minihane McGrath

In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative.

Spark A Life with Art’s mission is to generate hope through artistic expression, furthering the fight against our nation’s opioid epidemic by reaching out to others and creating something beautiful amidst the darkness of addiction. I began holding Community Art outreach programs designed to keep idle hands busy and filled with paintbrushes! Spark A Life with Art became a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity organization on August 9th of 2023.

Tell us a bit about you and why you do what you do. Share your passions for your business, organization, or initiative.

I’ve seen the pain in the eyes of others when speaking to family members about the ones they have lost to the opioid epidemic. It’s hard to have no control over someone you love that is literally killing themselves slowly right in front of you.

After being given the gift of art I fell in love with painting but knew I could not keep accumulating my own art work and needed to do something more. I needed a purpose, and what better purpose is there than to further the fight against our nation’s opioid epidemic? I began to pay it forward by using the proceeds from my artwork to host free community art events focusing on our younger generation and keeping their hands from being idle. I began Spark A Life with Art to intervene with an early intervention by giving individuals the opportunity to express themselves through art, by providing an opening to get lost in artistic opportunity before they have a chance to get lost in society.

What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that had an impact on you?

I watched the movie, The Boys in the Boat. It was playing on the Prime movie channel. It reminded me that no matter what life throws at you, always know your worth.

What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you or your business?

That the name Spark A Life with Art, came to be because my mother called me her sparkplug. She would say I would light up a room with my personality. It is because of her that I knew my nonprofit’s name would begin with the word Spark, in honor of my mother. I may light up a room, but my mother always lit up my heart and you can not have one without the other.

What is Creative Collective?

Creative Collective is a group of economic development strategists, small business supporters, activation specialists, and believers in the importance of the creative workforce. We foster growth, sustainability, and scalability for small businesses, creative thinkers, organizations, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Learn more and join Creative Collective at www.creativecollectivema.com/join