Our Work

Helping Ukrainian Refugees in Krakow, Poland, March 2022 - June 2023

In February 2022, I lay in bed, absorbed in the BBC coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Over the years, I had often felt a sense of helplessness, especially as I followed news about the Assad regime in Syria using chemical weapons on its own people while the world turned a blind eye. That night, hearing about the unfolding events in Ukraine, I resolved not to feel helpless any longer; I decided to take action. Thus, the inception of Artists Giving Back.

Before my feet touched the floor that February morning, I had already formulated an idea on how to best serve the Ukrainian refugee population. While they had access to essentials like food, water, medicine, housing, and trauma therapy, I pondered on how they spent their days in a foreign land, grappling with a new language and the loss of their community in Ukraine.

As an artist, I recognized the healing power of art—a universal language transcending linguistic barriers, much like love and music. Art serves as a modality for healing. Leveraging professional contacts, I reached out to an organization in Krakow, which was actively assisting thousands of refugees with necessities such as food, housing, medicine, and therapy. I presented my idea and, just 14 days later, found myself on the ground in Krakow, Poland.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, I shuttled between my home in Colorado and Poland, completing a total of six trips. Together with the refugees, we painted forged friendships, and collaborated on art shows featured twice in Krakow and the Culture Festival in Krakow. Through the initiatives of Artists Giving Back in Krakow, we restored dignity, built a sense of community, and instilled hope in this resilient refugee population.

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Helping Refugees from the Middle East and Africa in Greece, September 2023 - Ongoing

In the autumn of 2023, recognizing the success of my efforts in aiding Ukrainian refugees, I contemplated expanding my organization's reach to assist a broader spectrum of refugees globally. Despite positive feedback from my refugee community and valuable work experience, I found myself unsure about the specific ways and locations where I could make a more significant impact.

Greece hosts many of Europe's most overcrowded and challenging refugee camps. With no shade, living conditions are harsh, and refugees endure extreme boredom, sometimes spending up to four years in a shipping container with nine others while waiting for asylum.

Artists Giving Back collaborates with multiple organizations in Greece. Refugees from Gaza, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Kurdistan participate in our arts programming, engaging in activities like painting, beading bracelets, crafting paper flowers, and knitting. Beyond creating art, we foster human connections among refugees from various countries.

These refugees, originating from diverse nations, make their way to Turkey by land or air. From there, they enlist the assistance of smugglers to embark on perilous lifeboat journeys, without motors, across the Aegean Sea to reach Lesvos. Tragically, the refugees are vulnerable to "Push Backs," wherein Greek or Turkish Coastguards push the boats outside their country's sea boundary, often resulting in capsizing and numerous fatalities. The death toll from such incidents is heartbreaking, including men, women, and children. Through art, Artists Giving Back provides an outlet for these refugees to express their grief on paper, and we are committed to supporting them for as long as necessary.