Meet Amy Baker | Program Director & Certified Art4Healing Facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Baker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, what makes you happy? Why?
What makes me happy is using my gifts to bring out the best in others through encouragement. I have always felt called to support individuals with special needs, and my work at Art & Creativity for Healing allows me to do that in a meaningful way. I see transformation when someone discovers a new way to communicate through art. Watching their confidence grow reminds me why this work means so much to me. Being part of that growth and knowing I am living out my calling is what truly brings me joy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career has been shaped by a deep calling to help others, especially individuals with special needs. I found my way to Art & Creativity for Healing because it aligned perfectly with who I am and what I believe in. Through this work, I have been able to create safe spaces where people can use color and shape to express what they may not yet have words for. Seeing confidence grow and watching real transformation take place through art is what continues to inspire me.

What sets me apart is my belief in the power of encouragement. The work was not always easy. There were moments of uncertainty and challenge, but I learned to trust the process and stay true to the mission. I worked through challenges by staying open and learning as I went, and over time it helped guide me forward.

I am most proud of the people I get to work with and the growth I see along the way. Working with the special needs community is both powerful and deeply meaningful to me, and it continues to shape the heart of my work.

One of our mottos as Art4Healing facilitators is “Less of You, More of Them.” To me, that means keeping the focus on the participant and their own process of self-discovery. This is especially powerful within the special needs community, where having a new and creative way to express is both beautiful and meaningful. Creating space for that kind of expression is at the heart of what Art4Healing is all about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting, I’d show them the simple charm of Dana Point. We’d start a few mornings at RJ’s Cafe for breakfast, then walk around Dana Point Harbor and enjoy the views. One day would be for whale watching, since it’s always special to see them out in the ocean. Another day we’d do stand up paddle boarding in the harbor. We’d spend time at the beach, especially Salt Creek Beach, and make sure to catch a sunset. And since I’m an artist, I’d also take them to Laguna Beach to eat at The Cliff Restaurant. It’s laid back and overlooks the ocean. Afterward, we’d walk around and look at the local art. Maybe we’d even drive up to The Shake Shack and have a shake!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to my mentor, Laurie Zagon, Founder and Executive Director of Art & Creativity for Healing. She has played a meaningful role in shaping who I am and the way I approach my work. Laurie believed in me early on and consistently encouraged me to trust myself and stay true to who I am. Through her guidance, I learned how to hold space for people in a way that allows them to express what they need in the moment. Much of what I do today at Art & Creativity for Healing is influenced by what I learned from her example. I am thankful for the role she has played in my life.

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