You never need to wonder whether Episcopal women can change the world. You see it every day. Pat Sanger of Park City, Utah, was one of them because she saw a need on the Ute Reservation in the tiny town of Whiterocks, Utah, and acted on it.
Pat was an Advanced Psychiatric Registered Nurse devoted to the young people she served. She imagined an after-school program based on open-ended creative activities, through which children and teens could express whatever they were feeling. She named her program Arts-Kids and refined it in the Park City schools, for children in that resort community who had ADHD, socialization challenges or learning disabilities. While Park City elementary schools were quick to incorporate the program, Pat wondered what its impact might be in a chronically traumatized community.
When Pat joined a group from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Park City to visit St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Whiterocks, a breakthrough occurred. Over lunch she had a long conversation with a young mother named Emmy and learned about the community’s challenges—alcoholism, broken families and even untimely deaths of young people.
Emmy learned about what her children would do in Arts-Kids: After snack, they would participate in a Talking Circle by introducing themselves and setting their intentions for the afternoon. Adult mentors would be ready to listen and offer encouragement, thus building trust. Then an artist would lead an expressive arts project, which could be visual arts, movement and dance, drama and yoga, or traditional Ute arts, including storytelling, drumming and singing, and beading. Healthy living habits would be encouraged by active, outdoor games and shared nutritious meals.
It’s said that in Indigenous communities, if three grandmothers give their blessing to a program, it will thrive. Emmy’s enthusiasm for Arts-Kids was affirmed that day by three local grandmothers, including The Reverend Sue Duffield, then the priest at St. Elizabeth’s. People of all ages pitched in to help the program get started. Local oil companies, the Episcopal Diocese of Utah and grantors provided funding.
One of Pat Sanger’s inspirations was to create a poster with a short list of intentions. Have Fun was the first and easiest choice, but kids could also pick Stay in Control, Be Creative, Help Someone Else, Take a Risk, Learn Something New or Be Open and Present. As young people became more at ease, they branched out beyond Have Fun to set more complex intentions, all of which were reviewed at a closing Talking Circle before dinner.
Pat Sanger passed away in 2022, fully knowing that her legacy would continue without her. We held a contest to choose a new name, and a young graduate of the program came up with “Art Empowers.” She then created our logo.
Over the past 17 years, a whole generation of Ute children have set intentions and made all kinds of art. They’ve danced and played and made friends and shared countless meals. Art Empowers has helped them grow into the teens and young adults they are today, with bright futures ahead of them.
Talented Episcopal women made Art Empowers happen, and we are deeply grateful.
by: Lola Beatlebrox and Rev. Michael Carney