The Donna Lexa Community Art Center has new leadership and a bright, ambitious vision for the future.
Betsy Foss-Campbell joined the Donna Lexa Community Art Center as Executive Director at the tail end of April, and also added a new program coordinator in former volunteer Dylan McClain in May. Together, along with a staff that includes several instructors, aides, and volunteers the Donna Lexa Community Art Center helps 110 students with cognitive and developmental disabilities at three locations in Waukesha, West Bend and West Milwaukee.
Foss-Campbell had a 15-year career as an occupational therapist before returning to school for her master's degree in communication and political science with an interest in nonprofit work. She heard great things about Donna Lexa from a very personal source.
'I am connected with the arts center because my brother-in-law is one of the students here. He has Down syndrome and has attended for many years, so I know from him how much the art center programs mean to him,' Foss-Campbell said. 'Art is a vocation to him. He says, 'I'm an artist.' So when they were looking for a new director it was a good match.'
Foss-Campbell explained that she has many plans for the center, including evaluating current programs and doing a needs-assessment with current students to see what they would like from the center. Increasing community awareness and donor base are also a priority for any nonprofit. She also would like to keep the center about the students and what they are accomplishing.
'We'd also educate the community. We like to emphasize the abilities of the people with disabilities,' Foss-Campbell said. 'We like to empower and offer the opportunity for people with special needs to find their strengths, abilities, and interests and just a way to express themselves.'
McClain added 'I would say it's a new chapter for the organization and knowing this position was available I was pleased.'
An artist with an educational background in art therapy, McClain works as a program coordinator helping to schedule students and classes to be most effective. He will work closely with Foss-Campbell in helping achieve her goals.
For both Foss-Campbell and McClain their short time formally involved at Donna Lexa has led them to the same conclusion: that the services they offer are life-changing for those who take advantage of them and that they help someone who may not otherwise have a defined occupation or job title identify themselves.
'If I were to ask what you do, or how you identify yourself you would have an answer. Being able to fill that function for people who might have more obstacles to being able to stake their claim that way; that's a tremendously valuable thing to do.' McClain said. 'To say, 'I'm an artist' how empowering and how strong it is to be part of someone's identity. We could talk about the social benefits and the cognitive benefits and all that stuff but for me it's them being able to walk into the studio and identify with the work they make and share it with the rest of the world.'
It's didn't take long for Foss-Campbell to have the same feeling.
'My second day on the job, a former student donated some art supplies and she said, 'Art literally saved my life.' It had such a positive affect on her mental health and that made me feel like we really are providing an incredible service and filling a need,' Foss-Campbell said. 'I think art offers such a possibility for self-expression for all people especially people who may have limitations to express themselves verbally. It becomes a visual voice that allows people to express themselves and that's the power of what we offer.'
The organization has already lined up some new events this year. In addition to their booth at the Donna Lexa Community Arts Fair on Aug. 17 in Wales, they will be displaying art in August and September at the North Lake Library. In October, there will be a meet and greet with the artists and the work will be available for sale.
Foss-Campbell would also like to look into the possibility of selling art online via popular independent artists' websites such as Etsy.
'Honestly, I think that from my perspective Betsy has kind of set this high bar with her energy and enthusiasm for the evolution of this organization so keeping up has been a challenge,' McClain said. 'It's an exciting time to be affiliated with this community and this group of volunteers and teachers and artists and keeping up with the rate of evolution.'
Donna Lexa Community Art Center is at 247 Wisconsin Avenue in Waukesha. More information can be found at www.donnalexa.org