Mission Statement
Arts 4 Change Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit that teaches free acting classes and workshops for kids to help improve their mental health. We were established in February of 2023 by our founder, Aubrey Rosenhaus, who created this organization with the goal of improving kids' mental health through theater regardless of their socioeconomic class by incorporating drama therapy into our curriculum. Drama therapy is a type of creative arts therapy that uses acting and improvisational theater exercises to encourage patients to experiment and be comfortable with the unknown in a safe, judgemental-free, and fun environment. Drama therapy has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety, depression, and mental health illnesses while increasing creativity, confidence, and critical thinking skills, all of which have been proven to improve mental health. We have taught 535+ students and impacted over 2,745 lives through our various initiatives, such as our weekly acting class programs, workshops, and Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida Patch. We are dedicated to IMPROVing mental health through the arts.
Our WHY
Our WHY is crucial to Arts 4 Change Inc. and who we are. We were founded by high school sophomore Aubrey Rosenhaus in February 2023 after she lost a childhood friend to suicide in September of 2022. This loss was extremely difficult for Aubrey to process and opened up her eyes to the hidden prevalence of teen mental health issues. She was quickly approached by different friends who heard about the loss and shared their own mental health struggles with Aubrey, hoping she would be able to provide comfort. After the heartbreaking loss and new sharings from her friends, she knew she had to do something to fight back against the consuming issue of teen mental health. Aubrey combined her newfound passion for youth mental health advocacy and her longtime passion for theater to form the idea of Arts 4 Change. The goal was to teach a free acting class for kids breaking down the socioeconomic barriers of the theatrical arts while utilizing a drama therapy-based curriculum to help improve the mental health of our students. Drama therapy is a type of performing arts therapy that uses improv and acting exercises within its patients and has been scientifically proven to improve mental health through improving creativity, confidence, and critical thinking skills in participants. Arts 4 Change started as a free community program with 5 students and a team of 4 high schoolers, including Aubrey. Since then, Arts 4 Change has added an "Inc." to it's name as a offical 501(c)3 nonprofit, grown to teach 536+ students, and reach more kids than Aubrey could have ever imagined. Arts 4 Change Inc. has also received survey reports from its students that our programs are accomplishing Aubrey's original goal of improving the mental health and lives of our students! For Aubrey Arts 4 Change Inc. turned a loss filled with tragedy into a beautiful organization helping hundreds of kids strengthen their own mental health before their adult years, we are a true passion project centered around meaning, hope, and the belief in the power of the theatrical arts.
Our Goals
Improv(e) Mental Health through the Theatrical Arts
Increase Access for Youth Educational Theater
Breakdown the Sociconomic Barriers of Theater
