About Portraits of Youth
Working with Partners for Youth with Disabilities, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation is gathering the stories of youth with disabilities from around the country. Told in their own words, these "portraits" will showcase the young people's lives, dreams, and abilities.
A new portrait will be added each month. Enjoy meeting these remarkable young people.
Meet...
Learn More...
...about MEAF grants.
Portraits of Youth
September 2008: Cristina Powell
"My heart is especially interested in helping the patients and their families by giving them A Brighter Way, even if for only a day, an hour, or a few minutes"
Name: Cristina Powell
City: Brookline, MA
Age: 20
Hobbies: painting, smiling and being happy
When I was little I wanted to be a doctor but I changed my mind?cI wanted to be a nurse. As I got older, I realized that was too difficult for me. I still wanted to take care of people...I just needed to find the right way, and I did.
It all started with me and my art when I had a display of my paintings at a local library in Michigan for three months. This is where my Brighter Way began. I love to smile and make others happy, and my art is doing the same. What makes me the happiest is seeing the excitement, even tears, when I have my art table at the hospitals. Everyone says I bring them hope and inspiration. My heart is especially interested in helping the patients and their families by giving them A Brighter Way, even if for only a day, an hour, or a few minutes.
"The Sweet Hearts"
I did a project for Hospice of Southwest Michigan and Visiting Nurses. I painted a picture of hearts. The painting is named ?gThe Sweet Hearts.?h It was in a silent auction and on display in a program called Art for the Heart. One of my paintings, called Eternity is on a front of a book and a CD cover. The book is called ?gSpecial Angel.?h It is for children who have lost someone close to them with cancer. My paintings also have been displayed in the West Michigan Cancer Center.
Although we are from Michigan, my mom (Leanne) and I began traveling to Boston in 2004, for my mom?fs medical needs.
For a couple of years, I have had art tables to display and sell my art at Massachusetts General Hospital! People tell me that my paintings give them hope and inspiration. Since I have seen what happens with people who visit me at my tables, especially in the hospitals, I know it is now time to carry my love and smiles to the patients and their families. I want to personally visit them, and I want my paintings to be where they are.
Because of the success at the Massachusetts General Hospital display and art sale, my plan is to raise funding through donations so A Brighter Way can continue to place my paintings where they are needed the most?cin patient areas throughout the hospitals. At every table I have in a hospital or medical facility, I will be collecting funds for a framed print to be donated to that facility. This is my way to give back and say, ?gthank you!?h
Cristina Powell was born in Lima, Peru and was adopted and brought to the U.S. when she was four days old. At fifteen months, she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. At age 17, Cristina formed her own business?A Brighter Way. Read more about Cristina and see her collection of artwork at www.cristinapowell.com.
See Cristina on the news:
(You may need to download Quicktime to view this video.)
Cristina's Video: Click to Play
1560 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 1150
Arlington, VA 22209