Our Mission
Paint Love brings extraordinary arts programming to youth facing poverty and trauma.
Our Vision
We envision a world where all young people have access to creative experiences that empower them to imagine a future not limited by adverse experience.
How We Do It
Art is our vehicle, but the soul of our work is showing children that their voice matters, their ideas are important, and their actions can make a difference in shaping the future.
Who We Serve
We partner with educational and nonprofit organizations to engage youth, through projects that are artist-led, to empower conversations guided by trauma-informed standards.
Atlanta artist Julie McKevitt started Paint Love in 2014 with a mission rooted in direct response to three challenges she saw in our community:
Youth facing poverty or trauma greatly benefit from creative outlets, but often have the least access to artistic programming,
Schools and organizations serving these youth are pressed to meet their core needs and often lack the resources to provide creative experiences, and
Many artists want to use their talents to serve and give back but do not have the time or support to find and plan service opportunities.
Ready to get involved?
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Laura Shaw
Executive Director
Growing up as a ballet dancer, and later teaching dance in schools, Laura fell in love with the transformative power of art and sought to find innovative ways to incorporate imaginative and creative opportunities into the lives of young people.
Laura holds several yoga teacher certifications, earned her masters degree at Boston University, and with experience in community engagement and nonprofit management from Boston to San Francisco, she joined the Paint Love team in 2016 and became Executive Director in 2019.
Anokhee Jandhyala
Program Staff
After several years of working as a designer in the software industry, Anokhee is excited to turn her focus to community impact and art.
She loves creating ceramics, learning new artistic skills and mediums, and seeing inspiration in the word around her.
She holds a degree in information technology and joined the Paint Love team in 2023.
Chloe young
Family Programs and Grants Manager
Chloe loves being able to guide children on their quest to explore the world around them. She loves to do jigsaw puzzles, is a dog mama, and loves creating art and decorating. Chloe graduated from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with degrees in Child and Family Studies and Arts Management.
Chloe runs Paint Love’s Summer of Wonder art camp (and creates a secret handshake with each and every camper!) She also heads all other family programs at our studio in Decatur, and manages grant and foundation giving. She joined the Paint Love team as an intern in 2021 and full-time in 2022.
Kai Robinson
Program Staff
Kai is passionate about supporting underserved children and adolescents in their emotional health and development. She is currently finishing up her Bachelor's degree in Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and looking forward to getting her Master's in Social Work and Child & Family Therapy.
She is a New York native who enjoys creative writing and going on walks, and values finding inspiration for creativity within nature!
Leah Kellaway
Program Staff
Leah is an artist, illustrator, designer, and educator. She creates expressive work that focuses on themes of character and portraiture, everyday magic and adventure, and inspiration and empowerment.
She has worked independently and collaboratively to solve a multitude of visual problems since 2013, before founding her creative services business – Kellaway Creative Collaborative – in 2023. After being a member of the Paint Love Artist Cohort, she joined the staff in 2023.
MAndy Noa
Program Director
Mandy believes all the best things in life are a little messy - hands should be covered in paint, legs in dirt, and faces in pizza sauce.
She holds a masters degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Play Therapist. She first joined the Paint Love team as a volunteer in 2016 and became a paid Teaching Artist in 2018. After 7 years as a school social-worker at three Title 1 schools in the Cobb County school system, Mandy transitioned into her role as Program Director with Paint Love full-time in 2022. She also remains part-time at South Cobb High School.
Marquita Williams
Program Staff
Marquita is passionate about creating affirmative art that encourages hope in young people. She enjoys musical theatre, late night drives and rainy days.is a freelance visual artist.
She studied Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Atlanta and is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology at Clayton State and desires to become an Art Therapist. She joined the Paint Love team in 2022.
Meesh Medrano
Mural Coordinator
Meesh has a passion for color and creativity. The brighter, the better! Her art is a blend of fantastical realism and cute/creepy cartoon art. She gathers inspiration from bright colors, comics, cartoons, festive patterns, and alternative culture.
She graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. in Studio Art, and has been a working artist and muralist for 10+ years. She has been living in Atlanta since 2021 and is in love with the thriving art community here. She joined the Paint Love team in 2023.
Michelle Wood
Program Staff, Photographer
Michelle loves videogames, cosplay, and art of all kinds! Her outfit is not complete without dog hair and some paint splatter stains.
She is a freelance photographer, with her Bachelor's in photography from the Art Institute of Atlanta. When she's not capturing images, you can find her exploring new Atlanta parks on nature walks with her dog Hercules, or trying to hunt down the yummiest darkest chocolate. She joined the Paint Love team in 2022.
Olivia Abie
Program Staff
Olivia is a filmmaker with a passion for poetry, collage and documentary films.
Through her art she aspires to cultivate optimism and hope while showcasing her multicultural heritage.
Olivia studied international affairs and political science and is currently working toward her MFA in digital film making from Georgia State University. She joined the Paint Love team in 2023.
Robin Deutsch Edwards
Director of Philanthropy and Communications
Robin parlayed her childhood dream of becoming a mural artist traveling the world into her life through arts-centric board service and community involvement.
She holds a masters in Public and Nonprofit Management from New York University and brings 20+ years of experience leading marketing/communication and partnerships for large multinational companies, global NGOs, start up social ventures and campaigns, and professional roles in every sector.
She joined the Paint Love staff in 2024.
Board of Directors
Venessa Bines-Truitt
Regional Coordinator - DeKalb County Board of Education
Amy Clarke
Board Vice-Chair, Fundraising Committee co-chair
Program Director, CF Foundation
Nina Deschpande
Upper Primary School Counselor, Atlanta International School
Betsy Eppes
Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator, Fulton County Schools
Jermaine Fraser-Haughton
Board Treasurer
Financial Operations Manager, Purchasing Power
Beckie Hawkins
Board Secretary
Deputy Director - Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs at the City of Roswell
Cara Hergenroether
Board Chair
Former attorney, Community Volunteer
Renée Wilson-Simmons, DrPH
Managing Director, ChangeLab Solutions
Brandon Roldan
Privacy Program Manager, Meta
