Healing through Art Support CVPA Students & Staff

To know Maria Ojascastro as a friend, teacher, mentor, is to love her. Known and beloved to her students as “Ms. O”, Maria’s classroom is filled with joy, understanding, compassion, and provides an outlet for her students to get out whatever emotions are running through them. Widely regarded as a top arts+wellness teacher in the St. Louis region, if Ojacastro is involved with a program, class, or project, one is better for it.

On Monday, October 24th, Ojascastro was teaching at St. Louis’ Central Visual Performing Arts when a gunman broke into the building, murdering a fellow teacher and student next door to Maria’s classroom.

Though she escaped unharmed, the art teacher is utterly shocked and saddened by the tragic event. However, when asked what others could do to help, in true Maria fashion, Ojascastro responded by requesting assistance to help her students heal- through art.

Always putting others before herself, Ojascastro provides whatever her students at CVPA need- art supplies, healthy (and, maybe) unhealthy snacks, standard classroom materials, and individualized gift cards to Schnuck’s, Aldi’s, Dierberg’s, Target, Blick Art, ArtMart, & Michael’s.

“I ask that you put as much joy and love out there everyday”, Ojascastro expressed when explaining that she’d also like to cover her front yard in flowers. Living close to a nearby school, she wants those on their way to and from class- to see beauty.

“I want to be able to see beauty and spread joy, even when I don’t have the energy to teach”.

Please surround this wonderful human with the love+ support that she gives out into the world with such joy and zest. Donate what you can. Share with everyone. Know that all donations will be used to help heal a community through art & love.