Help Erika Begin to Rebuild Her Dream

As most of you are aware, a huge piece of the heart of downtown North Baltimore was hit with a building fire this past Saturday, January 15. While everyone was able to get out safely and the fire was ultimately contained, the damage was irreparable. One of the businesses affected was Happy Camper Art Studio, run by Erika Miklovic.

At the end of last year, after much deliberation and careful consideration, Erika decided to put her life on hold and chase her dreams. She took a year's leave of absence from her job teaching elementary art at Powell Elementary to open her own art studio right here in NB. Her dream was to help people of all ages right here in our village unleash their creativity and limitless potential, while also focusing on her own art making. She was beyond thrilled to be able to find the studio space here and get started. Happy Camper Art Studio has been fully operational since the beginning of the school year, and tragically, this fire hit just as she was starting to pick up steam. I can't even imagine how she is feeling after giving up everything for her dream to watch it literally go up in flames.

While Erika is still in the grieving process, she is also thinking about how to move forward, and she will need our help to do so. Insurance will cover some of the loss, but she is also losing income, countless supplies, precious and irreplaceable art work, and most importantly, her dream of a maker space.

Erika is one of the biggest cheerleaders of North Baltimore I have ever met. She teaches her artists to celebrate where they come from and embrace it, while also not being limited by it. Those of you who know her, also know her kind and generous heart, and brazen spirit. While I know she will indeed rise from the ashes, she needs us to support her now, in the way she has supported her community and her students for so many years.