20th Anniversary Impact Story: Transforming Lives at Rising Stars Richmond

One Teaching Artist’s story – “I approach teaching with an open heart, empathy, and kindness.”

As we celebrate 20 years of Arts Ignite, we are reflecting not only on the thousands of young artists we’ve served, but on the quiet, powerful transformations that define our work. At Rising Stars Richmond 2024, something extraordinary happened. During the October program, our Teaching Artist Lauren noticed a student who was attentive, thoughtful, and always present—but rarely spoke. We later learned that he lives with selective mutism and had struggled to communicate verbally throughout the academic year. Even his classroom support team had not heard him speak. And then, on the second-to-last day of camp, Lauren walked into the gym in full conversation with him. The room paused.

Staff members stared in disbelief. Double takes all around. How was this happening? Lauren, completely unaware of the magnitude of the moment, looked back at the team, confused by their astonishment. From her perspective, nothing unusual had occurred. “I thought he was just shy and quiet,” she later reflected. “He was attentive. He didn’t stand out as someone disengaged. He just didn’t speak on his own. I approach teaching with an open heart, empathy, and kindness. I try to create a warm space where students feel trust and safety. When that space exists, students open up and become themselves.” And that’s exactly what happened. By the end of the week, this student wasn’t just participating, he was talking. Singing. Engaging. Connecting. Lauren had simply created a space where he felt safe enough to find his voice. She had no idea she was the only person he had spoken to all year.

This is the impact of Arts Ignite.

Transformation doesn’t always arrive with a spotlight. Sometimes it looks like a quiet conversation in a gym. A child testing out his voice. A Teaching Artist leading with empathy instead of expectation.
For twenty years, we have witnessed moments like this—moments where creative capacity blossoms, community forms, and courage quietly take root.

Here’s to the next twenty years of voices unlocked. 🎉

Learn more about our Rising Stars RVA program by watching the videos below and clicking here.