Stepping out of your comfort zone is an invitation to play in the growth zone. It is not always comfortable, but it is a place of rich inspiration and energy. It is also a place where passion and purpose lock arms and take you to a new level of leadership.
Richard Paul Evans shared this quote by Bishop TD Jakes in his book the Four Doors.
“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For you passion will lead you to your purpose”. — The Four Doors by Richard Paul Evans
Leading a nonprofit is often a place where passions and purpose must align. Jan Papirmeister, Executive Director of Youth Art For Healing (YAFH) is an example of a leader who has taken her passions for art and health care to leverage a purpose that is so vitally needed in care facilities.
YAFH mission is to “bring works of art created by youth into healthcare environments to provide a sense of comfort, inspiration and healing for patients and their loved ones, and healthcare professionals”. This small, mighty and fast growing nonprofit in Bethesda, Maryland is in its third year of connecting art teachers, students, patients, and health care organizations. YAFH is now grounded by a visionary Board of Directors but the initial spark of passion came from Jan Papirmeister.
This quiet, humble leader wove together her passion as an artist with her desire to comfort and heal people as a nurse. She knew her passions and then pointed them towards a compelling purpose.
As a parent of two incredibly artistic children, Jan saw how the creativity of youth could inspire and comfort others. As a mother she was passionate about helping her son and daughter to discover their creative talents. This passion to help young artists share their talents was the seed that led to the vision for Youth Art for Healing. This conviction combined with her passion to provide healing and comfort to those in need was the spark that started YAFH. Jan’s research about healing arts allowed her purpose to take fire. As a mother, nurse, artist, and now Executive Director of a growing nonprofit, she has pointed her passions towards a deep purpose.
Jan kindly walks through art classrooms, hospital boardrooms, and patient rooms to celebrate creative spirit, honor youth artists, comfort patients and loved ones, and inspire doctors, nurses and staff. Her gentle presence and amazing focus has allowed her to live her dream of honoring her love of art, the love of her children, and the dream that art can comfort, heal, and inspire all.
I’d love to hear how you are pointing your passions towards your powerful purpose.
YAFH: The Project Begins
