Donate

269-281-1784

ourhouseoftheway@gmail.com

Location: 74 W Wall Street, Benton Harbor, 49022 - United States

Email: ourhouseoftheway@gmail.com

Phone: 269-281-1784

Donate

269-281-1784

ourhouseoftheway@gmail.com

Arts & Philosophy Club

Charity

Charity is Love in Action

Arts & Crafts Club with Philosophy

Exploring Creativity, Wisdom, and Purpose through Art

We believe that childhood is fertile ground where dreams, values, and inner vision begin to grow and shape each person’s world.
This a creative and reflective space open to both children and adults, where we nurture artistic expression, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and spiritual awareness.
Through engaging activities, welcoming gatherings, and meaningful connections, we aim to awaken each participant’s creative and inner potential.
We want everyone who steps into our space to feel transported into a magical world — where colors, ideas, and harmony come together. A place where imagination takes flight and creativity is embraced with warmth and purpose.
We invite local artists to join us as volunteers and partners on this transformative journey.
Together, we hope to inspire lives and create memories that serve as anchors of light in the storms of life.

How We Work

Every child is born with their own light — a unique voice that needs to be heard, embraced, and expressed. Through art and philosophy, we encourage each participant to develop their talents, discover their purpose, inner strength, and role in the world.

Art Activities by Age Group

Ages 4 to 6 — Guided activities with colorful and sensory materials to develop confidence, coordination, and imagination.
Ages 7 to 8 — Step-by-step projects with cutouts, collages, and symbols, integrating stories and meaning.
Ages 9 to 10 — Increased creative freedom with design challenges, technique exploration, and opportunities for personal reflection.
Ages 11 to 16 — Advanced exploration of personal style and interests, including mixed media experiments, portfolio building, introduction to art history, and philosophical themes related to identity, purpose, and society.

CONCEPTUAL PROJECTS

Storytelling through Art: Creating comics, journals, and storyboards addressing moral values with themes like friendship, justice, kindness, and identity.
Drawing and Painting Techniques: Working with watercolor, gouache, colored pencils, and exploring perspective and volume
Sculpture: Modeling with recycled paper pulp, exploring form, structure, and symbolism.
Mixed Media & Digital Art: Combining fabric, photography, magazines, and digital illustrations to create layered, meaningful pieces.
Art Criticism: Thoughtfully guided group discussions where teens analyze and evaluate their own work and the work of others.

These sessions explore artistic styles, techniques, symbolism, and creative intention, fostering critical thinking and deeper appreciation for the role of art in personal expression and cultural history.

Through respectful dialogue and peer feedback, participants gain confidence to express their voice and refine their creative process.

PHILOSOPHY AT THE HEART

More than making art, we aim to see life with new eyes. Children are invited to reflect on:

Self-awareness and identity
Empathy and understanding others
Values, choices, and purpose
Dreams and the meaning of life

We use stories, inspirational quotes, and interactive dialogue to cultivate critical thinking and active listening.

Art becomes a tool for understanding oneself and the world.

Meditation & Emotional Intelligence

We teach practices that support emotional balance and inner connection:

Breathing and relaxation exercises
Guided meditations and gentle stretching
Emotional Intelligence

Workshops focused on five key pillars:

Self-awareness
Self-regulation
Internal motivation
Empathy
Social skills

Collaborative & Cultural Projects

Group murals, exhibits, and family-involved activities
Cultural celebrations integrated with creative projects
Monthly themed workshops

Community Engagement Donations

We gratefully accept donations of:

Art supplies
Books
Healthy snacks
Financial support to keep the club accessible for all

Partnerships

We warmly invite churches, schools, and local businesses to support this project — and welcome volunteers to join us with love, knowledge, and creativity.

Art Room as a Community Space

Our art room is open to community artists who wish to offer their own workshops.

Here’s how it works:

Artists may use the space for paid workshops, contributing a voluntary donation to OUR HOUSE. This helps sustain our social programs.
We also encourage these artists to offer free workshops for the children and families of Benton Harbor.
Families who are able to contribute help cover materials and keep the project going, allowing other children to participate at no cost.
We aim to inspire, transform, and promote dreams — creating a world where we are all equal!

GALLERY

A Space to Belong

We believe art leads us to a deeper encounter with ourselves — a discovery of who I am, where I am, and what I seek. We promote this self-discovery through art, creativity, spirituality, and the sharing of true life experiences.

Join us and let your light shine!

Button

VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER