By Grace Harrison
“I have never fit into the mold of a stereotypical teen,” said Penelope Oliver, executive director and founder of the nonprofit, All Access Arts. Her nonprofit works with shelters and schools in Sacramento to provide youth with access to visual and performance arts. In an interview with the Steinberg Institute, Oliver shared how she juggles running a successful nonprofit and being a full-time student while also taking care of her mental health.
Oliver never felt like she quite fit in anywhere. She has been on a mental health journey to find out who she is and what drives her in the past few years.
“It takes time to authentically be yourself and it takes time to find the confidence and really, the strength to show up as who you are in this world when you are a little different or when you don’t fit these stereotypical roles or molds,” she said.
She credits her close friends with helping her channel that authenticity and build the confidence to follow her passions. One of those passions is a love for the arts.
But while volunteering she noticed many young people in her community were not getting the same opportunity to participate in arts education as she was. She decided she wanted to help provide more art programming, while also fostering community and connection, leading her to start All Access Arts.
Through All Access Arts, Oliver has developed several different programs and field trips. She offers activities like water coloring, theater, music, and dance. She says All Access Arts gives young people the opportunity to find beauty and calm in art, both of which can be therapeutic. Oliver has seen first-hand the mental health changes that can happen when young people engage in some of the activities her nonprofit offers.
“Creating a safe space can really change [the] trajectory of someone’s life,” she said.
Oliver is continuing to establish new programs through All Access Arts, and by doing so helping others with their mental health by offering community support. Currently, All Access Arts is building a program for youth that are refugees, experiencing homelessness, or have an unstable housing situation. Oliver is currently looking for partnerships to help this new program flourish to its full potential.
Oliver says the biggest reward she gets from her work is being able to connect with youth and their families. She has learned so much from the young people she serves and it has taught her lessons about humanity and community..
“Just talk with people, and really connect because you will realize we have a ton in common and we’re all really similar,” she said.
Oliver plans to continue to expand her nonprofit offerings and her work in the community, even as she starts her college career at UC Berkeley.