Heather Martin founded Youth Arts Alliance in 2013 in an effort to establish opportunities for creative expression in the juvenile justice system. YAA has since grown in response to youth requests that workshops and programs be available to them in their communities.

She has extensive experience in the coordination and management of innovative, creative arts programming, having facilitated hundreds of creative arts workshops for youth and adults involved and impacted by the criminal justice system. Additionally, she leads training on best-practices for creative arts interventions & collaborations to activate personal transformation and collaboration for community change.

Heather holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan.

Photo by Misty Lyn Photography.