Chris Zydel, also known as The Wild Heart Queen, is the head creative goddess at Creative Juices Arts (creativejuicesarts.com). She has over 40 years of experience as a teacher of the expressive arts and compassionate creativity guide. Devotion to the process of creation is her passion, her medicine, her spiritual practice and her deep soul work. She has an unshakeable faith in the power of creativity to heal hearts and change lives. She knows deep in her bones that everyone is deeply, wonderfully and gloriously creative and is on a relentlessly love-soaked mission to prove that to the world. She performs this magic by providing nurturing and joy-filled creative sanctuaries and creative healing circles overflowing with kindness, encouragement, permission and trust in the sacred energy of play and creativity that lives inside of us all.

She has also joyfully developed many innovative retreat and workshop experiences such as Painting From The Wild Heart, Women, Painting and Power, The Art Of Goddess Creation, The Wild Heart Expressive Arts Teacher Training Program and the online class Painting With Fire. 

Sally L. Saunders is a widely published poet, lecturer, workshop leader and author of nine poetry books. She wrote her first poem at the age of six, and has been told they were some of her best works!  She has pursued that passion throughout her life.  She studied Eastern poetry and haiku in Japan, and during travel which introduced her to Nehru in India and Albert Schweitzer in Africa. Working under Bobby Kennedy, she did teaching stints among migrant farm laborers. She got a Title 3 grant from the State Department, traveling 1,000 miles to teach 1,000 children in Appalachia, and on the Navajo Reservation.  Throughout, her conviction that poetry offers a universal way to express what is in your soul has remained unchallenged.

She lectured on the Healing Power of Poetry at the University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, CA and gave talks to doctors on Poetry Therapy at a poetry conference at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. sallylovesaunders.org

Macarena Pena (Well Connected Espanol) is a blind artist, speaker, and community advocate whose work explores creativity, resilience, and human connection through abstract painting and sensory expression. Passionate about making art accessible to all, she has dedicated herself to sharing the experience of painting with blind and visually impaired individuals through inclusive workshops and community initiatives. Her artwork and solo exhibitions have been featured at La Casa de la Cultura in Reynosa, Biblioteca José Vasconcelos in Mexico, and various university venues throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Macarena is also the founder of Visionaries – The Blind in Action, a nonprofit organization committed to “connecting the community with the blind and the blind with the community” through art, wellness, cultural events, and advocacy that promote inclusion, independence, and empowerment.

From Gayle Wanamaker (Well Connected): Struggling with debilitating medical issues, Anthem recommended that I join Covia for social connections. Becoming a member transformed my life. I started with Ruth’s Table art and slow-looking programs that inspired and gave me the confidence to speak my thoughts without judgment. As a Well-Connected facilitator, teaching crazy quilting, collage, embroidery, and dimensional art, and conducting a Read Aloud book group, has been stimulating and satisfying. Well-Connected also opened the door to my senior advocacy. I now serve on the AFIC Senior Residency Council (Age Friendly Innovation Center), and the COAAA Advisory Council Char (Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging).

My passion is ensuring that public transportation is accessible for all disabled and seniors. I believe in the ARTS that create community connections: Reading, which enlightens and changes our story one hour at a time; History, which reminds us of our legacy of creating, and Social Change to adapt to our ever-changing society. Being a member of the Columbus, Ohio Button Club and working on the elections is vital for my community interaction and placement. I am currently looking forward to running “creative talks” where renowned artists, authors, and creatives share their elder joy and enthusiasm for creativity.

Center for Innovation and Wellbeing - The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing is weaving innovative and empowering technology into the lives of these individuals by supporting wellbeing and helping them thrive. They will be sharing their story of intergenerational connection through games both table and video! fpciw.org

Front Porch Gallery - free programs and workshops provide a space for creative engagement, where participants can explore various aspects of art including discussion, viewing, making, and collecting. By fostering a supportive environment, we aim to promote positive aging, reduce isolation, encourage personal growth and well-being, and foster social connections. frontporchgallery.org

Ruth's Table - committed to increasing access to creative opportunities for older adults and adults with disabilities, providing an inclusive and inspiring environment for creative expression and meaningful connections. ruthstable.org

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