Read About the Experiences of ASI Volunteers!

See what others are saying about Art Sphere!

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Blair Nakamoto (Graphic Designer)
“Currently illustrating the workbooks intended for children and teens whose education was inevitably impacted by COVID. I’ve been making the designs for the books written by ASI instructors, and they’ve been fun even just to read through! They’re hands-on, art integrated lessons that range from guitar instruction to STEM experiments, to women artists, and social change communication. I’m excited for the kids and teens who get to try out these lessons!”

Praveen Lokanathan (IT Team)
“The devastation caused by COVID overwhelmed me. No other incident in recent memory has had such an immediate and profound impact that I felt compelled to volunteer my time in any which way possible. Art Sphere was the first to hire me. My work, albeit limited hopefully, has brought about a positive impact. Being on their IT team, I try to fix what is broken and stay away from what is not. The culture, vibe, and motivation to shape the next generation is what is making me stay for the foreseeable future. Thank you, Art Sphere, for this opportunity.”

Russell Glidewell (IT Team)
“I started at ASI not knowing much about the IT Help Desk but was readily welcomed and assisted by others on the IT team. I love volunteering at ASI because they foster a sense of community; I was impressed by the level of collective collaboration across the different groups and how receptive everyone is to new ideas. This place feels like a second family.“

Jack Lapides (Web Design)
“I’m excited to be working with Art Sphere as a volunteer to help drive forward ASI’s web presence. ASI is a great resource and has built an impressive batch of programs necessary to help spread art throughout the youth population in Philadelphia. Looking forward to continuing the mission!”

Gerri Yost (Grant Writer)
“I am proud to be a volunteer for ASI. I’ve been with ASI since October 2021 and am so impressed with the variety of classes and programs they offer. The topics they include really give students an opportunity to explore their own skills, develop new ones, and find a multitude of ways to express their creativity, identity, and culture.”

Jaser Marasigan (Public Relations)
“It has been quite a challenging journey for me since I migrated here from the Philippines earlier this year — trying to get that public relations job that I want. But I’m glad I found ASI because I’ve always wanted to be involved in nonprofits, and education has always been one of my advocacies. To be able to do communications for ASI in putting forward its mission gives me such joy. I will forever be grateful to ASI for giving me this opportunity when no one else did.”

Amanda Hall (Volunteer Coordinator Team) “At ASI, I am rewarded with personal and professional development opportunities and the ability to network. It’s a truly positive, welcoming, and diverse organization; I learn not only from the tasks but also from the ever-expanding team! In terms of scheduling, I appreciate ASI’s ability to balance flexibility and structure.”

Lam Lo (Web Design Team)
“Contrary to my initial nervousness when joining ASI, the people here are so amiable and welcoming. It feels nice to be in such a casual work environment and be appreciated by teammates. Plus, it is heart-warming to know that what I do contributes to giving back to the community.”

Sam Park Young (Writer and Grant Writer) “Volunteering with ASI has been such a rewarding experience! I started in early September as the new Volunteer Coordinator and have been thoroughly impressed with the friendliness of the staff, level of organization, and true passion I‘ve seen so far at ASI. Very grateful to play a role in this non-profit and looking forward to meeting even more volunteers!”

Abigail Petlyarsky (Design Team)
“I was new to Art Sphere Inc. this fall. I love working in such a friendly and welcoming environment. It has been a great pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful team and a company that cares so much about the community. I really enjoyed meeting everyone, and I look forward to learning more and working on more projects!”

Nadara Bacon (Admin Team)
“It has been a great amount of joy volunteering with ASI. From just a few short months of working with the organization. I was welcomed with open arms. I was given the opportunity to express my creativity but to also learn from ASI. I hope to be a part of ASI for a lifetime.”

Dawit Belai (IT Team)
“I started to volunteer as a Technician at Art Sphere and it has been a valuable experience. I like doing assignments that relate to technology because I always had a passion and interest in the information technology field. Not only have these assignments helped me obtain new skills, but it also has helped me build out my resume in a more effective way.”

Kenny Kim (Web Design Team)
“It’s been an amazing journey since I joined the awesome team of Art Sphere as UI/UX designer. Two projects I’m involved in are centered around mobile app development for kids to interact and show their creativity, and redesigning the Art Sphere site based on users’ needs. I fell in love with the culture and the amazing vibe people create here in Art Sphere. There are awesome people that I continue to learn from and get motivated by due to their passion for helping kids and others. Thank you, everyone, for this experience and the opportunity to work with you all!”

Ardit Hoxha (Web Design Team)
“Volunteering at Art Sphere has been a positive and pleasant experience. Everyone is ready and willing to answer my questions and show me the ropes. Thanks to their sincere and helpful feedback, I’ve had an enjoyable time designing, creating, and updating their webpages.”

Sydney Hancock (Public Relations) “I was brought on as a Public Relations Intern this fall and have been loving the environment and culture of ASI. Coming in with a background in healthcare, I am excited to bring new ideas to the team and be apart of such a wonderful nonprofit organization!”

Ella Lumingas (Social Media Team)
“This is my first time volunteering, it has been such a great experience for me. Everyone in my team has been very helpful! I started to volunteer in the social media team and I also get to make some cool contents on TikTok. Not only do I get to learn some new experiences, but I also get to grow as an individual and be responsible for my tasks. I am excited to share some cool ideas that can be useful to the audience in the future!”

Benjamin Ruff (Teacher)
“I wanted my students to enjoy making art in creative ways. In doing so, I simplified the guidelines and introduced different levels of collaboration. Overall, this experience has been a positive one for me. If given the chance, I would love to do it again. I would love to get a chance to apply what I’ve learned to the next series of classes.”

Mallika Kodavatiganti (Program Coordinator)
“ASI teaches a wide variety of topics for all ages, these valuable teaching resources have a lot of intention behind them. They are all centered on issues that we feel are important to talk about, from climate change to Black Lives Matter, and we use the arts as a form that teaches about these issues.”

“I am so grateful for having had the opportunity to volunteer with Art Sphere Inc. throughout my undergraduate career. My interests lie in public health and medicine, and ASI really helped me better understand and more meaningfully engage with the community of Philadelphia. In collaboration with diverse, interprofessional teams, I worked on projects focused on climate action, urban inequity, improving access to classical music, and addressing gun violence in the community. These projects not only helped me further explore my own personal and professional interests, but they also helped me learn how to meaningfully connect with the community, even when we were online throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. ASI has taught me invaluable lessons about community inclusion and the vital relevance of the arts in addressing issues in our communities, and I am grateful to be carrying this knowledge with me in my future work as a medical professional.”

Natalie Perez (Art Teacher) “Working at ASI has felt extremely rewarding as a teacher. The team is very supportive and kind, and the diverse material that I watch everyone create to enthrall children is inspiring. As a new volunteer, it feels so exciting to pass on the knowledge that I have been accumulating throughout my art education!”

Julia L. Woch (Grant Writer) “Volunteering at ASI has allowed me to contribute to positive change and influence in communities besides my own. I’m always meeting new people from different teams while helping edit and create their written work. I love seeing the multitude of projects everyone is working on, and I am grateful for the opportunity to play a small role in the creation of their work.”

Carey Talbot-Sanders (Teacher) “I really enjoy making handouts for Art Sphere, especially handouts that promote diversity in different communities, such as the Asian, African American, and LGBTQ+ community. I love that I can help spread culture and inclusivity through my handouts as I did with the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month handout or the National Best Friends Day handouts!”

Ana Bim (IT Support) “My volunteer time at ASI has filled my life with joy. I’ve been researching projects for students, creating designs and posts to share arts lessons to the public through ASI’s social media channels, collaborating to improve the onboarding process for staff, supporting my teammates by teaching technology, and managing the IT Team to improve ASI’s online workspace. These activities have strengthened me, taught me to work in a group and pay attention to my teammates’ needs. As the newly appointed assistant director, I plan to assist the director with daily activities. I’m so thankful for being able to give back through ASI. The beauty of volunteering at ASI is that everyone involved benefits.”

Jade Hingtgen (Social Media Manager)
“Working at Art Sphere was my first real job at the beginning of my college experience. I loved it so much that I stayed for 2 years now as the lead social media manager. I learned so much about the ins and outs of volunteer work as a business professional. Also, I’ve learned how to distribute Art Sphere’s free handouts and lessons online, which helped me gain some well developed marketing skills. I loved the diversity of the staff and all the wonderful people I got to help along the way. I will be taking a break this summer from working at Art Sphere, but I look forward to returning soon. See you in the Fall!”

Hazuki Ishikawa (Animation Team) “Through volunteer activity at ASI, I had opportunities to collaborate with others and enhance my animation/motion design skills. The ASI community is always positive and gives me constructive feedback about how we can best serve the community. I appreciate my chance to be a member of ASI.”

Christie Germans (Teacher Team) “I am delighted to be a volunteer for ASI. I’ve been with them since August, 2022 and love working with this community. From day one, I’ve been struck by the caring, positive, talented, and collaborative team and in return I’m lucky to have found the work very rewarding and fun. The best part of volunteering with ASI is making a positive impact on the local community and I hope everyone is enjoying the interactive education, classes, and resources ASI provides.”

Katie Jiang (Admin Team)
“Volunteering for ASI has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me. Through my work with the organization, I have had the chance to collaborate with others and explore new tools and technologies. One of the things I appreciate most about ASI is the supportive community and working team. They have provided me with valuable feedback and guidance as I have worked on data analysis projects with the organization. Being part of the ASI team has been an enriching experience that I will always cherish. The organization’s focus on collaboration and growth has helped me become a better data analyst and team member.”

Weijia Cheng (IT Development Team) “I am honored to have the opportunity to volunteer as a software engineer with ASI. The team at ASI has been supportive and welcoming, and I have had the opportunity to work with some talented individuals who share the same passion for making a positive impact on the community. Volunteering for ASI has been a humbling experience that has enriched my life in many ways.”

Chris Chamberlain (Web Design Team)
“Volunteering at ASI has given me the opportunity to learn and develop new skills and meet and collaborate with lots of talented, friendly, and interesting people. Kristin’s constant positivity, enthusiasm, and support make it a comfortable and productive working environment.”

Yimiao Wang (Design Team)
“Volunteering as a graphic designer for ASI has been an enriching experience that has allowed me to enhance my design skills while working with a supportive and passionate community. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to ASI’s mission and look forward to continuing to collaborate with this amazing organization.”

Israel Howell (Web Design Team)
“Volunteering at ASI has given me the opportunity to learn and develop new skills and meet and collaborate with lots of talented, friendly, and interesting people. Kristin’s constant positivity, enthusiasm, and support make it a comfortable and productive working environment.”

Susan Sato (Writing Team)
“When considering a new career path, I recommend seeking out volunteer work in the field of interest. As a Volunteer Proofreader at ASI, I have been given the opportunity to edit a book and author a video script. These invaluable experiences have helped me decide to pursue a career as a writer/editor.”

Garrett Carvajal (Grant Writer)
“Volunteering as a grant writer with Art Sphere has already taught me so much! I’ve been able to write on ASI’s philosophies for teaching and have learned about the many free programs we offer to young people. ”

Glory Joe (Web Designer)
“ Volunteering at Art Sphere as a web designer has been a great experience for me not only because I got to be involved in some of their projects, but I also got to work with some of the most amazing and supportive people I could ever dream of. ”

Anushka Khurana (Design Team)

“Working as a design volunteer at ASI has been a truly rewarding experience. I’ve always been passionate about using my skills for a meaningful purpose, and I’m grateful to ASI for providing me with the opportunity to do so. It’s my first time working in the education sphere, and it has been nothing short of delightful to enable a positive impact on young minds. Additionally, it’s my first experience with an American organization, and I’m thoroughly impressed by how welcoming and supportive everyone has been throughout my journey here.”