Helping Teens’ Hopes and Dreams Soar
Healing in Arts spearheaded the Butterfly Dreams project in collaboration with Young Life. The art workshop took place in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and left an indelible mark on a group of teenagers. Under the guidance of board member Kathy Pluymert, the art centered on the theme of belonging, using the analogy of monarch butterflies and how they huddle together to stay warm. By highlighting how each butterfly depends on the others for survival, she shared a personal reflection on how humans are designed to be part of something greater—a sacred message on the importance of each individual.
Pamela Alderman and Healing in Arts artist Yeram Leonard, who designed the butterfly motif, brought the artistic collaboration to life. Using the pointillism technique inspired by Georges Seurat’s iconic style, each participant painted a tile with a series of colorful dots. When assembled, the tiles formed four vibrant butterflies, symbolizing the value of each person’s contribution. As one teen eloquently put it, “The final masterpiece was a little bit of all of us.”
Butterfly Dreams fostered a sense of community, self-expression, and empowerment among teenagers while championing values of inclusivity and interconnectedness. We appreciate the efforts of Kathy and her son, Mitchell Pluymert, for bringing this project to fruition. Their commitment impacted the teens by nurturing creativity and instilling a profound sense of belonging.
