Today, Barnett is realizing that visionas President of Storytellers Creative Arts, a faith-based, non-profit organization serving Collier and Lee Counties with the purpose to “heal and transform lives through the arts.” The board of seven creative and highly competent men andwomen are passionately driving the mission, enhancing the impact of Storytellers. Barnett explains that in the Bible, Ephesians 2:10 “affirms that we are God’s masterpiece and that He has called us to create, to glorify Him and impact the world. Our stories are connected to the story of the One who has made us unique —with creative gifts that can transform the lives of the least, the last and the lost.” Barnett, a graduate of Warner University, moved to Southwest Florida in 2003, and purposefully sought out the arts communities, focusing part of his efforts on connecting artists with each other for professional purposes and camaraderie — such as the Storytellers Creative Arts conference that presents inspirational workshops featuring artists in visual arts, film, acting, writing, music, the media and more. Storytellers also hosts social gatherings for artists, performers, writers and similar creative artists, as well as small community groups, concerts and art shows. At the same time, given his background, passion and faith, Storytellers also focused on reaching and helping artists struggling with emotional or lifestyle challenges find hope, direction and positive outcomes. Ultimately, that focus expanded to include more diverse needs — from dependency and recovery, to physical or developmental disabilities, to at-risk or disadvantaged youth. Today, his team of artistic volunteers and mentors, now numbering some 60 women and men, are regularly reaching out to transform lives in the community, partnering
{ WWW.STORYTELLERSCREATIVEARTS.ORG }
16 COASTE | ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
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