Juniper Arts Academy

05/29/2026

Consistency builds trust, but creativity unlocks healing.

We are so proud to celebrate wrapping up our very first full semester hosting weekly Clubs at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Facility!

By expanding our program from 4 visits a semester to 12—a massive 200% increase—our JAA staff has been able to show up consistently. We’ve learned that for youth in the justice system, the arts aren’t just a pastime; they are a powerful tool for healing.

When our students engage in play, it physically releases cortisol (the stress hormone) from their bodies, allowing them to let their guard down. In that safe space, play naturally builds deep connection and teaches tangible, healthy coping skills they can use as they face incredibly difficult situations.

Because of that steady presence and the power of the arts, we’ve watched these incredible students grow in:

✨ Confidence
🤝 Healthy peer-to-peer relationships
🗣️ Strong communication skills

Huge shoutout to our dedicated staff and the amazing students who leaned in and created something beautiful this semester.

05/14/2026

Dr. Joshua Villa, Ph.D. is a Wichita-based community advocate, educator, and facilitator whose work sits at the intersection of prevention, mental health, and cultural identity.

He currently serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute, where he is a member of the Prevention Initiatives Team and collaborates closely with community coalitions to strengthen services and impact at the local and state level.

Dr. Villa earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in psychology and behavioral studies from Wichita State University. His scholarly work examines masculinity, vulnerability, and pathways to healing within marginalized communities.

Grounded in lived experience and community partnership, his approach emphasizes dialogue, creative expression, and collective storytelling as catalysts for connection and transformative change. Through his work with grassroots organizations, artists, and community partners, he is committed to cultivating spaces where voices are honored, narratives are reclaimed, and personal testimony contributes to both individual and collective well-being.

He looks forward to creating positive change, breaking cycles, and building brighter futures through art and expression for our Wichita communities.

Please join us in welcoming Josh to the Juniper Arts Academy Board of Directors!

05/12/2026

Help us fill the studio! 🎨🧶🏺

The Juniper Arts Academy Summer Studio Drive is officially LIVE. We’re looking for supplies to help our youth access fine arts and find their creative voice this summer.

The Mission: Stock the shelves by May 29!

The Method: Shop our Amazon Wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/WC6L38SSH2HH?ref_=wl_share 🔗 (or click the link in bio!)

05/06/2026

Woven together. 🧵

Our final spring session at EmberHope Youthville Newton recently wrapped up, leaving us with more than just beautiful woven bookmarks.

Around this table, our students and advocates practiced the art of patience, the strength of resilience, and the power of cheering each other on.

In our program, the mentorship is in the making. We grow together, we learn together, and we belong together.

So proud of our EmberHope Youthville Newton Art Club: Weaving class! 👏

04/23/2026

Two memorial funds honoring Miriam “Mimi” Overholt have been established honoring the wishes of Mimi:

LegacyWorks: legacyworksict.org/donate
(Write “Mimi Overholt” in the comments)

Juniper Arts Academy: https://www.juniperartsacademy.org/miriam-overholt-memorial-fund

Mimi leaves a legacy of love, and it is the commitment of both organizations to carry that legacy forward in everything we do.

A memorial service honoring the life and memory of Mimi will be held at 10am on May 15th at the Bartlett Arboretum. You can find service updates at https://www.caringbridge.org/site/f43b9ac3-2a49-11f1-8e20-d9383e75a41d

04/22/2026

“Home” can be a temporary word. But music? Music is theirs to keep. 🥁✨

Look closely at the scrawled handwriting on these buckets. Behind the vibrant layers of spray paint meticulously crafted by the team at Harvester Arts lies a much deeper rhythm.

For a child navigating the foster care system, so many things are transient. Living situations change, schools shift, and “home” can feel like a moving target. We wanted to give them something that belongs solely to them: their voice, their beat, and the knowledge that an entire community has their back.

These aren’t just instruments. They are anchors.

Our community members hand-wrote messages of strength on every bucket and drumstick to ensure that when these kids play, they aren’t just hearing a rhythm—they’re reading a promise.

A promise that they are brave, they are artists, and they are seen.

Today, these materials are in the hands of our youth.

They’re finding their tempo, processing their stories, and realizing that while environments may change, the music they create (and the village behind them) is permanent.

04/21/2026

Long before they were advocating for our students or leading classrooms, they were just kids with big imaginations and even bigger hearts. 🌱✨

We’re jumping on the trend and sharing some “throwbacks” of the team! Swipe to see the faces of the people who make JAA a place of healing, creativity, and belonging. From classroom prep to trauma-informed advocacy, these little ones grew up to do some pretty big things for our youth.

Can you guess who is who? 🧐👇

04/20/2026

CityArts has been such a valuable partner from the very beginning of our work. It was a joy to celebrate this new step of a permanent classroom with them at our Open House last week!

Congratulations Juniper Arts Academy on your new classroom space! We champion the work that Juniper does, creating a safe place for foster youth to learn and express themselves through the arts.

04/20/2026

Get your appetite ready—it’s time to eat for a cause! 🍔🍦

We’re heading to Freddy’s TODAY for a delicious takeover to support Juniper Arts Academy.

📍 THE GAME PLAN
• WHERE: 420 S Ridge Rd, Wichita
• WHEN: Today, April 20 | 4 PM - 8 PM
• THE WIN: Freddy’s is donating 15% of event sales to our academy!

🍦 HOW TO HELP
• In-Person: Just mention “I’m here for the fundraiser” or flash this flyer at checkout.
• On the App: Ordering to-go? Use code GIVEBACK to make it count! 📱

Tag your burger buddy and we’ll see you there! Let’s show up big for the youth in foster care & juvenile justice communities. ✨

04/16/2026

Our open house is TODAY from 4pm-6pm! We are located at the former Payne Elementary School! Enter through entrance 6, and you’ll find us! 😊