Where does Art Live?
Some people think art hangs quietly on a wall, waiting to be admired. But in Mikelle’s home, art hums in the air—it’s in the soft clinking of beads as she threads a bracelet, in the swirl of color on her iPad screen, in the laughter that comes when a design takes an unexpected turn. Art here isn’t decoration. It’s conversation, connection, and sometimes, revelation.
For Mikelle, art is freedom. It’s how she speaks, experiments, and translates her vision into something others can see and feel. Her bracelets shimmer with intention—each color, each pattern a small act of storytelling. They carry her energy and her quiet insistence that beauty, like belonging, is for everyone.
Art Transforms
But what might surprise people is how art also transforms her team.
Around Mikelle’s art table, something shifts. The roles of “caregiver” and “supported person” fade into the background, replaced by a circle of creators. Beads scatter, ideas flow, and suddenly everyone is problem-solving together—mixing patterns, balancing colors, finding rhythm. Creativity sparks critical thinking. When the clasp doesn’t fit or the colors clash, it’s not just about fixing jewelry—it’s about flexibility, communication, and teamwork.
Art Invites Patience
Art invites patience. It teaches how to observe, how to experiment, and how to fail gracefully and start again. It softens the edges of our day-to-day routines and reminds the team that care is not a list of tasks—it’s an art form, too.
And for Mikelle, who thrives on collaboration, these moments build connection in ways no checklist ever could. The process of creating something beautiful reminds everyone involved why they’re here: to learn from each other, to grow together, to keep reimagining what’s possible.
Art is Mikelle’s quiet mentor, who cultivates imagination, problem-solving, and joy not only in her life but in the lives of those who support her. It’s where work meets wonder—and where creativity reminds us that inclusion is, at its heart, a creative act.
Reflection Prompt:
What brings creativity into your caregiving world? What small acts of art help you think differently, connect deeply, or solve challenges more beautifully?