What is the Creative Catalyst Foundation?

The Creative Catalyst Foundation (CCF) is a student-run nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free art education and opportunities to underserved communities. We aim to ignite creativity, confidence, and self-expression—especially in kids who may not otherwise have access to structured art lessons.

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What can I expect from a typical program or lesson?

It depends on the age group and what the partnering organization is looking for! For example, we might teach foundational drawing skills like sketching, shading, and coloring. Some lessons cover color theory or painting techniques, while others focus on fun and accessible projects like drawing popular cartoon characters to help younger or newer students build accuracy and confidence.

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Who can volunteer as a teacher?

We're currently looking for high school students in the Boston/MA area (since we’re just starting out locally). Volunteers may help lead classes, assist in rooms, or even help plan lessons if they’d like! All volunteers earn community service hours—this is a nonprofit, so it’s unpaid, but a great opportunity to take initiative and build experience.

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Can I earn community service hours through CCF?

Yes! Once approved, volunteers can earn hours for planning, organizing, preparing, and teaching classes. We’re also working on getting CCF pre-approved at Lexington High School to make the process even smoother. We’ll walk you through how to log hours, who to send forms to, etc.

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What does the organization hope to achieve long term?

Our first project launches summer 2025 in partnership with ACCESS Chinatown, and we’re so excited. In the future, we hope to collaborate with more local organizations, hold events in community centers, and even expand to places like senior homes (because it’s never too late to find a passion!). Our goal is to foster creativity, build confidence, and help students gain recognition for their artwork. We’re also pursuing a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for the future. It’s a process, but we’re working on it!

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Is there adult supervision in classes?​

Yes! There will always be a responsible adult present—either a board member from CCF or someone from the partnering organization (like regular staff or counselors already supervising the space). Safety and accountability are a priority for us.

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Do partner organizations need to provide the art supplies?

It depends. Some places, like ACCESS, already have a very creative and art-supportive environment. But we’re also actively working on setting up a donation system so that in the future, we can provide high-quality supplies ourselves to make the experience even better for students.

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Who leads the Creative Catalyst Foundation?

The Creative Catalyst Foundation was founded by Christina Xiao, with key support from student leaders like Kimly Nguyen and Doris Sun, who have played essential roles in launching and leading the organization. A board of adult directors also supports CCF by overseeing the legal and organizational aspects.

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Why should I volunteer?

Volunteering with CCF is a meaningful way to give back through your creativity. You’ll earn community service hours, gain leadership experience, and be part of a flexible, supportive team of student artists making a real impact.

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Where are the programs held?

Our first major program will take place in the summer of 2025 at ACCESS Chinatown in Boston, where we’ll run weekly art lessons. As we grow, we hope to expand into other locations across the greater Boston area!

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Do I need prior teaching experience to volunteer?

Nope! You don’t need teaching experience, but you do need to have some background in art. We’re looking for volunteers who are confident artists and comfortable sharing their skills with others. (Don't worry—you can show us what you’ve done in the volunteer form!)

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What ages do CCF serve?

It varies depending on the partner organization. For example, ACCESS Chinatown serves rising K–6th graders. As we expand, we also hope to work with older students—and even adults or seniors in the future.

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How do I apply to volunteer? 

You can apply by filling out the volunteer form! Once we review your submission, we’ll follow up with the next steps for getting involved.