Sasha, Arts Connect Program Manager, shares
how youth turn their pain into purpose

At Hilltop Artists, our mission is to use glass art to connect young people to better futures. In Arts Connect, a program I’ve led for nine years, we partner with Pierce County Juvenile Court to serve court-involved youth who identify as female. Many arrive guarded and uncertain, carrying deep trauma. But over just 10 weeks, they begin to open up, and something powerful starts to unfold.

In our studios, surrounded by molten glass, mosaic tiles, and collaborative projects, these young people begin to find their creative voice. They form friendships, learn to work as a team, and build trust with adults. In a space they help create and take ownership of, they discover not just the art of glassmaking, but the power of being seen.

Some youth stay one session, others return for quarters or even years. However long they’re with us, I’ve seen them grow into confident, curious, and courageous individuals. They arrive with so much potential, often buried beneath trauma or survival, but in Arts Connect, they begin to believe in themselves again.

When a young person starts to believe in themselves again, everything changes. You can be part of that change—make a gift today to help us continue this life-affirming work.

Make my gift in support of Hilltop Artists

I’ve seen youth walk out on day one, unwilling to engage. Weeks later, those same youth, pride beaming, are sculpting delicate flowers or shaping colorful bowls in the hot shop. I’ve watched them speak at final showcases, sharing their stories with a room full of community members.

They even use their art to give back, selling their art to raise funds for survivors of violence, the unhoused, and those struggling with substance use or mental health. They transform their pain into purpose, beauty, and care for others.

A Hilltop Artists instructor assists an Arts Connect student in the hot shop.

By the end of each session, the transformation is undeniable and these young people carry the magic of Arts Connect back into their lives, their families, and their communities.

These moments of beauty and bravery aren’t accidental—they’re nurtured by consistent, caring investment. Will you invest in the next story of transformation?

Yes, I want to support Hilltop Artists this spring!

This work isn’t easy. Some days I leave drained, frustrated by the ways youth test boundaries or resist connection. But most days, I leave inspired, believing deeply in every young person I meet. One supportive adult can make a lasting difference. Imagine what’s possible if every adult steps up and choses to witness, support, and stand beside youth on their journey.

Art heals. Art builds voice. Art creates change. The youth of Arts Connect are living proof of that change.

With gratitude,

Sasha Tepper-Stewart, Arts Connect Program Manager