This guitar was hand-painted by board member, Carolyn Bryant, at one of our Make Your MARC events in support of the mission of Hope Creates. 

Carolyn Bryant personally understands how substance abuse and mental illness affect one’s ability to thrive, yet also how creativity can counter the devastating effects. She received her B.F.A in painting from Webster University and her M.A. in secondary education from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Carolyn has worked for the Special School District, AmeriCorps, United Cerebral Palsy Heartland, Patrick Henry Downtown Academy in St. Louis, and Atlas Public School, gaining a depth of experience in how to teach people with a multitude of abilities. 

These experiences changed her life as she observed the inequity in education and the amount of trauma that children have experienced due to poverty and substance abuse. She has researched how to create a choice-based art curriculum with trauma-informed practices. Carolyn believes that art creates opportunities for people to heal by building connections with themselves, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Art has the power to change the world.