I wasn't sure my 12 year old could wash the dishes without breaking something, so I was dubious when he started glass making with Hilltop Artists at Jason Lee. He didn't like pulling anything out of the oven even, how was he going to handle molten glass??

Within a few weeks, he was not just facing the fire, he was creating works of art that spoke from his life. He brought home glass pieces embedded with racecar symbols and abstract images from his D&D games. 

In the photo below I'm wearing one of the bead necklaces he made for me. It was a total surprise. All I noticed was that he was suddenly much more interested in my wardrobe colors. When he finally came home with this green and blue and white necklace, he wanted to talk at length about whether it met my fashion standards. It totally did.

It wasn't just the glass, though. He also brought home confidence and big ideas about what he could accomplish in the world. "Y'know, I could maybe even start a business making glass beads." He gained courage, and he gained the discipline to work through a complex project.

My son is just one of the many young people to learn and grow through Hilltop Artists. The program is designed to include any aspiring young glass artist, no matter what situations they may face at home. And those programs offer much more than just a necklace, they offer job training that can lead to a career - right here in the new Garden of Glass Art, Tacoma.

Join me in supporting Hilltop Artists for what they offer young people, Tacoma, and anyone with a Heart for Glass.