Inspiring Kids' Futures
Story by Stephanie Riel

Rachel Oesterle, executive director of Phoenix's therapeutic-arts nonprofit Free Arts of Arizona, has always had a desire to help.

"From a very young age, I have always had a heart for people in need," says the 55-year-old mother of two. "I think every person is born with a mission that is in them, and I have just been fortunate enough that I realized that when I was a little kid–allowing me to live that mission."

It wasn't long after graduating from the University of Arizona that Oesterle found her passion of family services and child welfare while working at Catholic Social Services in Southern Arizona. From there, Oesterle took the initiative to broaden the reach of child welfare for the facility in the western part of the state.

Prior to her current post at Free Arts, the Arizona native's résumé boasts work with Arizona nonprofit organizations like Aid to Adoption of Special Kids and the Sojourner Center that have led to record dollar-raising amounts and the expansion of innovative family welfare programming statewide. She even started her own nonprofit consulting firm in 2002.

Although new to the job at Free Arts - she's only been on the payroll since September 2008 - Oesterle has plenty of passion and experience to direct toward her goal of making Free Arts the source of therapeutic arts treatment in the state.

As executive director, Oesterle serves as a mentor for Free Arts staff by providing insight, sparking creativity and promoting the opportunities Free Arts creates for Valley children.

"I truly love being an advocate, shouting from the mountaintops and helping families and children to realize their potential to soar," she says.

Free Arts of Arizona brings the healing power of art and creativity to thousands of abused, neglected and homeless children each year through a variety of programs and activities including a multicultural arts camp, the professional artist series, Free Arts days and an especially unique 20-week mentoring program for children under the age of 17.

"That transformation when you see a child come alive" is what is most worth the work to Oesterle, who feels that Free Arts proves that power of art and expression, and that art heals.

"We enhance their lives and give them possibility. What we provide them allows them to think and dream beyond their circumstance," she says.

And to Oesterle, that makes even the toughest days on the job worth every minute.