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?
Volunteer with us! →
Chloe young
Manager of Development + Community Programs
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.
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.
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 8 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.
Robin Deutsch Edwards
Director of Philanthropy + Communication
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 full-time in 2024.
Erika Fager
Program Support Staff
Erika holds degrees from University of North Carolina in psychology and a masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She loves hanging out with friends, spending time outdoors, exploring new places, and being creative through art and music.
She has loved art since she was a little kid and it has always been her favorite creative outlet and way to de-stress. She loves that her work with Paint Love lets her combine her love of art and her education as a counselor and gives her the chance to help others be creative and find new ways of expressing themselves. She joined the Paint Love staff in 2024.
Leah Kellaway
Programs + Murals Coordinator
Program Staff Artist
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 holds an BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Georgia and a BFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford.
She has worked independently and collaboratively to solve a multitude of visual problems, 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.
Marquita Williams
Studio + Operations Coordinator
Program Staff Artist
Marquita is passionate about creating affirmative art that encourages hope in young people. She enjoys musical theatre, late night drives and rainy days. She is also a freelance visual artist.
She studied Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Atlanta, holds a degree in Psychology from Clayton State, and desires to become a Speech Pathologist specializing in Communication Disorder. She joined the Paint Love team in 2022.
Mariah Koch
Program Support Staff
Mariah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, Global Health, and International Studies from the University of Oregon. She has worked in diverse spaces focused on public health and mental wellness, and coupled together with her passion for visual art, she loves working in creative educational spaces that prioritize communicative, multifaceted work and mental health. She has worked with Paint Love as a volunteer since 2023 and joined the Paint Love staff in 2024.
Michelle Wood
Artist + Project Coordinator
Program Staff Artist, 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 Artist
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.
Headshots by Michelle at Elle Wood Photography
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
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
