Children and their world
, a global project
About Us
The Colored Pencil Project distributes colored pencils, pencil sharpeners, and paper to children in developing countries, facilitating art workshops along the way encouraging children to visually depict themselves and their world. The art workshops help the children explore and define what it is that makes them uniquely them, what in their world influences who they are, and what about them influences their world. The Colored Pencil Project workshops are conducted with the hopes of providing these children with not only the supplies but also the confidence to continue to express themselves in color.
Hannah Richards, Founder of the Colored Pencil Project
After several years of working in various non-profit organizations, Hannah formulated and developed an idea for a non-profit of her own to promote art education, purposeful human interaction and personal expression, three motivating facets of The Colored Pencil Project, and causes dear to Hannah's heart. Hannah brings to The Project extensive experience working with children, including the Citydance program at the Boston Ballet, the artist-in-residence program at the Seattle Children's Museum, movement classes taught at the Hartford Boys and Girls Club and beginner ballet classes taught at the Acton School of Ballet.
Additionally, Hannah has utilized her background in film to collaborate with and support the Judy Dworin Ensemble. Hannah accompanied the dance troupe into public schools where they conducted dance workshops with the youth which Hannah videotaped, recording the progress of both the children and the project, which culminated in a final, public community performance. Hannah later edited the footage into a short documentary, which was used to gain financial assistance for the organization.
Through this work, Hannah has grown her skills in project management and development of educational curriculum, and has all the while honored her own creative vision, tirelessly developing ideas from their conception into reality. The Colored Pencil Project was born out of Hannah's desire to leave the world a little better than she found it, incorporating her love of children, art and travel to reach far corners of the globe and humanity.
Board of Directors
Amy Montalto, Chair
Shannon Ranson, Treasurer
Katherine Crone, Secretary
Kevin Colket
Brynn Hale
Kate Kemmis