MORE heART FOUNDATION
Art That Heals.
Voices That Inspire.
Change That Lasts
More heART Foundation creates transformative art experiences that empower people to express themselves, connect with others, and become catalysts for positive change in their communities.
CREATIVITY WITH PURPOSE
More heART Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating art experiences that heal, inspire and ignite change. Through creative expression, education, cultural awareness and community engagement, we help people recognize their voice and use it to make a meaningful difference.
We believe art can change the world.
HEAL
Create safe spaces for expression, reflection and personal growth.
INSPIRE
Encourage creativity, empathy and deeper understanding of ourselves and others.
IGNITE CHANGE
Help people transform creative ideas into meaningful action in their communities.
OUR PROGRAMS
Creativity for every stage of life.
Our programs combine artistic expression, empathy, cultural awareness and social impact to help participants discover their voice and recognize their power to create change.
Young at heART
For 2nd–4th Grade Students
Young participants explore visual art, dance, spoken word, poetry, photography and digital storytelling while developing empathy, self-expression and an understanding of their role in the world.
heARTfelt
For 5th–8th Grade Students
Students explore creative expression, multicultural experiences and social issues while developing collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity.
heART Now
For 9th–12th Grade Students
Teens explore identity, culture and social issues through multiple forms of art while developing ideas and projects designed to create meaningful change.
Open heART
For Adults
An immersive experience encouraging adults to reconnect with their passions, explore culture and social issues, and develop ideas that can positively impact their communities.
Full of heART
Coaching
Personalized coaching designed to help individuals explore their passions, voice, creativity and ability to affect change.
heART Strong
Consulting & Training
Consulting and training for organizations seeking to cultivate empathy, creativity, cultural understanding and a stronger culture of care.
PARTNERSHIP
Supporting Women's Voices in the Arts
More heART Foundation proudly supports Women's LIVE Artist Studio as a fiscal sponsor, helping amplify women artists and create opportunities for their work to reach wider audiences.
Our World
Changing Board
Tye Johnson
an educator, critically acclaimed artist, and health coach. She received a bachelors in studio art/graphic design from Michigan State University and worked as a graphic designer/marketing specialist at the educational media company United Learning. She was instrumental in the start-up of their video streaming brand, now owned by Discovery Education. She holds a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from DePaul University, a Master of Science in Educational Media Design and Technology from Full Sail University, and health coach certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
President & CEO
Deidra Jackson
Vice President
is a Divisional Vice President of Enterprise Marketing at Blue Cross Blue Shield, focusing on driving business results. She is an expert in the Health Care industry, helping organizations successfully navigate the new healthcare environment. Leveraging her degree in Operations Management and Information Systems from Northern Illinois University, she has spent the last 13 years of her career focusing on process improvement, system implementations, and KPI metric development and analysis. Deidra currently lives in Oak Park IL with her husband and 4 children, thoroughly enjoying the art of life.
began his career in education after graduating from Dartmouth College and working for several years as an undergraduate Admission Officer there and at Northwestern University. While earning his Master of Science in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania, he co-launched a start-up academic and personal skills center for high school students in Seoul, South Korea. After working with CACS of Dinpoint in Shanghai, China, Mr. Fryer, a sought-after speaker, completed his PhD in Comparative and International Education at Loyola University Chicago where his focus was the development of global citizenship education and leadership.
Treasurer
Landis G. Fryer
Karen Fogg
Board Member
is an elementary educator and graduate of Loyola University Chicago. She has taught for over 25 years in South Central Los Angeles, Chicago Public Schools, and most currently in Oak Park, IL. She has been a 3-time finalist for the prestigious Golden Apple Award, international teacher leader for arts integration through an Illinois Arts Foundation grant, teacher's union representative, and the director of her school's drama club. She is also an avid traveler and volunteered at Salaam Baalak Trust, working with street boys in New Delhi where she taught theater, poetry, and creative movement. Karen is passionate about education, art, people, and life!
Christopher Kerstein
is a Vice President at The Northern Trust Company working with investments as manager of performance anlysts for North America. Graduating from Oakland University in 2003 with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentration in Finance, he moved one month later from Rochester Hills, Michigan to Chicago to begin his career in Finance. After two years working at Scudder Investments as an investment associate, he took a five month hiatus to sail on Lake Michigan. Following this brief tour, he began working at The Northern Trust Company and has remained there since.
Board Member
is a computer engineer specializing in computer security. He consults with energy companies, banks, hospitals, and other institutions in assessing computer networks and implementing solutions mitigating security vulnerabilities. Daryl holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Michigan State University and a Masters Degree in Computer Engineering from University of Michigan.
Board Member
Daryl L. Thompson
Jeff Weber
is a life-long learner and educator. For the past thirty-two years he has been a public servant in the field of education – most of those years being in Oak Park, IL. Within those years he has garnered numerous nominations and accolades including recognition from the Kohl Foundation, Illinois Teachers of Mathematics, the Golden Apple Foundation, and the state of Illinois as a runner-up for the Teacher of the Year. Jeff is a triple graduate of Concordia University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and dual Master’s Degrees in Reading and Administration. When not teaching, Jeff enjoys theater (both seeing and performing) and playing competitive softball and tennis.
Board Member
FREE RESOURCE
Start Creating Change From the heART.
Get access to the FREE 4-heART Plan video series and workbook and begin turning inspiration into meaningful action.
Help Creativity Change a Life.
Your support helps More heART Foundation create experiences that encourage expression, build empathy and empower people to become agents of positive change.