El Arte de Amar: Healing Children Through Love, Theater, and Art
El Arte de Amar is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to nurturing children through bilingual education, theater, and the arts, strengthening families and cultural identity in a time when children are increasingly disconnected—from themselves, their families, and real human connection.
The Story Behind the Mission
This mission was born from the story of Emma.
At 17, she had education and resources, but lacked emotional guidance, values, and a supportive community. She faced the world alone—and paid a devastating price.
Emma taught us a painful truth: children don’t fail because they lack talent or opportunity, but because they lack love, structure, belonging, and guidance.
El Arte de Amar exists so no child ever walks that path alone.
Art as Healing in a Screen-Saturated World
Today, excessive cell phone use is deeply affecting children’s attention, emotional regulation, self-esteem, and mental health. Many arrive overwhelmed, distracted, and disconnected.
At El Arte de Amar, art is therapy.
Through daily, screen-free artistic practice, we help children reconnect with their bodies, emotions, voices, and community. We work closely with families to create awareness around screen addiction and to restore balance through routine, creativity, and presence.
Theater at the Heart of Everything
For over 30 years, our work has been rooted in love, discipline, emotional intelligence, and community, with theater as our core teaching tool.
Through theater, children learn Spanish naturally while developing:
Respect, discipline, and responsibility
Self-love, confidence, and emotional expression
Empathy, inclusion, and assertive communication
Focus, memory, teamwork, and belonging
Theater strengthens the brain, heals emotions, and gives children a voice.
Holistic, Screen-Free Workshops
When we have a space, El Arte de Amar offers integral workshops that nurture the whole child, including:
🎭 Theater (core program)
🎶 Singing and music
🌱 Agriculture and ecology
📚 Spanish language and literacy
🎨 Fine arts
🧘 Mindfulness and emotional regulation
🏛️ Civics and human rights
💰 Financial literacy
Education, Family, and Community
Children in our program stay engaged in school and continue through high school, developing discipline and purpose.
Families are central to our work. Parents participate actively, especially in La Pastorela, our most important annual production.
We are proud to be the only organization in Northern California that preserves this Christmas tradition through community theater, uniting parents, children, youth, and elders on one stage.
Theater Groups Born from El Arte de Amar
From this program emerged:
BA’DUNASHI – Children ages 4 to 13, the only bilingual children’s theater company in the region
AKANA – Youth and adults ages 14 to 100, with over 50 volunteers
Together, they present bilingual community productions such as “Tortillas Quemadas”.
Impact and Recognition
Despite major challenges, including a life-altering stroke suffered by our founder in 2013, this mission never stopped.
Today, 33 former students have graduated from higher education.
Our work has been recognized with awards including UNICEF Peace Program, Grandeza Hispana (2021–2025), and Heroes of Our Community – Estrella TV.
Giving Day: Help Us Begin Again
Today, we are starting again from scratch. We urgently need a dignified, safe, screen-free space—a room filled with art, love, discipline, and human connection.
Your support helps ensure that no child—no Emma—faces the world alone.
Will you help us rebuild a home for love, art, and healing?
