Staff Spotlight: Ms. Theresa — Inspiring Confidence Through Art

For Ms. Theresa, art is more than just pencils and paper. "Art is a way for these kids to communicate, self-regulate emotions, and reflect.”

As the Arts, Culture & Expression Manager at the Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club, which includes not only visual arts, but also culture, creative expression, STEAM, performance, and other youth development opportunities, Ms. Theresa’s main goal is to foster an environment where creativity can grow, and every kid feels encouraged to explore their imagination.

Her love for art began long before she stepped into a classroom. Growing up, Ms. Theresa was inspired by her grandmother, a folk artist whose creativity sparked her own passion for artistic expression. As she developed her skills, she realized she was also very passionate about teaching and sharing this love with others.

That passion led her to Shepherd University, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2016. Following graduation, as a certified art teacher, she traveled to Japan, where she taught art and language to students through 2019. Even though she was not fluent in Japanese, her passion for art was able to bridge the cultural difference.

After returning to the United States, Ms. Theresa continued her work in education by teaching in museums, public schools, and another nonprofit role doing arts programming. She also went back to school to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Fall of 2024.

In November 2025, she brought her experience to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore, where she found an opportunity to combine her love of art with youth development.

Since joining BGCMB, Ms. Theresa has worked to make art engaging and meaningful for every member who walks into her classroom. Whether members are interested in sculpture, graphic design, painting, or exploring a new creative outlet, she strives to create an environment where they feel welcomed and encouraged to try something new.

Ms. Theresa encourages them to take creative risks.

"There is no such thing as a mistake, only happy accidents," she says.

For Ms. Theresa, one of the most rewarding parts of her work is watching members gain confidence in themselves.

One moment stands out in particular. During a recent project, some members joined the class after the lesson had already begun. Rather than stopping to reteach the instructions herself, Ms. Theresa encouraged the members who had already started, to guide their peers through the process.

The members stepped into leadership roles, teaching one another, and helping their friends succeed. What began as a simple classroom adjustment, became an opportunity for these young people to build confidence and realize they were capable of leading others. Skills that will last long beyond the classroom.

What makes her work at Boys & Girls Clubs special, is the shared commitment to helping young people succeed.

"The thing that's so meaningful about working for Boys & Girls Clubs is that we all have one mission at the end of the day," Ms. Theresa explains. "That mission is to create a lasting impact and provide resources for youth."

Looking ahead, Ms. Theresa hopes to leave a mark on the organization itself. Her goal is to build a model that can serve as a blueprint, one that can be adapted and scaled to fit the dynamics of each Club.

By creating opportunities for self-expression, leadership, and personal growth, she is already laying out the foundation for that vision.

For Ms. Theresa, the greatest work of art isn't what's created on paper; it's the confidence her students build along the way.