Beyond Enrichment: Arts as a Lifeline for Youth Well-Being
Time: Noon to 1:15 pm
Venue: WOW Hall
291 West 8th
Eugene, Oregon
97401
- Join the Livestream
- YouTube
- Podcast
We will meet at the WOW Hall, 291 W 8th. Learn more: https://wowhall.org/about-us/. Walk, ride a bike or take the bus. You may park on the street or in the parking lot of FOOD for Lane County's Dining Room, across 8th from the WOW Hall. A freewill donation acknowledging the Dining Room's generosity may be made at the meeting.
Lunch will be available for $15.
Topic:
Young people today are navigating rising rates of anxiety, isolation, and disconnection, often with fewer spaces where they feel seen, safe, and valued. This program explores how the arts and creative expression function not as “extras,” but as essential tools for youth mental health, confidence, and belonging.
Featuring leaders from Simply Youth Institute (Wynter Eddins) and #Instaballet (Miranda Atkinson), the conversation will highlight two distinct but complementary approaches to engaging young people through the arts. From writing and publishing to participatory dance-making, both organizations create environments where youth are not just consumers of art, but authors, collaborators, and co-creators.
Through storytelling and moderated discussion, the panel will explore how creative spaces foster agency, resilience, and connection, especially for youth facing barriers to traditional systems and what this means for our broader community. The session will conclude with audience Q&A focused on access, funding, and the role of arts education in building a healthier Eugene.
Speakers
Title: Executive Director
Organization: #instaballet
Website: https://instaballet.org/
Biography:
Biographies are provided by the speakers and edited for length/proofreading
Miranda Atkinson, executive director/wearer of many hats joined the #instaballet board in 2015, has volunteered at many events, and has even performed with #instaballet as a dancer and facilitator. In 2022, she was hired as #instaballet’s program administrator and first employee, catalyzing and securing funding for #instaballet’s expanding operations and eventually becoming executive director in 2023. A dancer herself, Miranda grew up in the Midwest. She has 25 years of experience as a dance teacher and also led a successful career as an administrator in higher education, launching and leading multiple programs designed to support equity and student success. Miranda has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master’s in Education in Counseling Psychology. She values creativity, strategy, inclusivity, and relationships in her work.
Title: Executive Director
Organization: Simply Youth Institute
Website: https://simplyyouthinstitute.com/
Biography:
Biographies are provided by the speakers and edited for length/proofreading
Wynter Eddins is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and Founder and Executive Director of Simply Youth Institute, where she connects young adults to their leadership skills through education, creative expression, mentorship, and career exploration. A multi-published author and community leader, she centers her work on using the creative arts as a tool for healing, confidence, and meaningful decision-making. Fun fact: Wynter starred as the lead in Megalodon Rising, a 2021 feature film about a giant shark.
