We Are Lions

Workshop

We Are Lions (WAL) gives students the opportunity to create their own t-shirts.

Wait it gets better

We Are Lions will come to your school for FREE to host an art workshop for your students. Students will have the opportunity to create art that will be printed onto t-shirts.

During the workshop students will draw pictures and creative designs. We will then take the art and print it on a t-shirt, if a shirt is purchased by a parent/guardian.

Roar Loud.

We then donate 2 dollars per shirt ordered back to your school.

We host workshops for both special education programs and general education classrooms to encourage the inclusion of all students of all ages and abilities.

Arts can be included in school curriculums to be therapeutic and help youth address some of the issues that they are experiencing in their lives.

Workshop Package Includes

All in all, students create their own t-shirts, teachers gain additional time to relax, and the school receives extra funding. A custom t-shirt costs $20 and $2 will be donated back to your school for every shirt ordered. WE DO NOT CHARGE YOUR SCHOOL ANY MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT. We will have all of the students creations archived on the We Are Lions website organized, by school, so if individuals want to view and buy a students t-shirt after the workshop, he/she can purchase the t-shirt and we will still donate $2 to your school. We Are Lions t-shirts are perfect for Mothers Day, Fathers Day, the winter break holidays, or any other special event. Not only that, but children can design t-shirts for school plays, any school wide event, or even create t-shirts that can be worn during gym class. The possibilities are endless when it comes to We Are Lions t-shirts.

Supplies
Generally, We Are Lions supplies the workshop art supplies. We do ask, however, that if your school does have art supplies (markers, paper, paints, etc.) that you please contribute. We emphasize that you do not have to spend any money for this project, so outside spending is not necessary.

General Information
We Are Lions workshops are accessible to individuals with disabilities. In fact, We Are Lions was initially created to increase awareness regarding developmental disabilities, while providing additional funding to organizations that work with individuals who have disabilities. Please let us know of any special needs you might have and we will make the necessary accommodations. We Are Lions will periodically document classes through still photography and video for publicity purposes. Registration in a WAL workshop includes permission to photograph students and/or artwork and to use these images in publicity materials. If you do not want WAL to photograph your students, please notify staff at the time of registration.
4

About WAL
We Are Lions was founded in 2010 as a t-shirt company for artists with disabilities to spread their work through alternative mediums to larger audiences. From the outset, WAL had a dual commitment to excellence in visual arts education and service to the special needs community.

In 2012, due to an ever-increasing demand for school funding and art programs, We Are Lions constructed our workshop programs. Our workshops are now part of the Illinois School District 219, and have been featured in various publications.

FAQ
What is a workshop? A workshop is an organized event that We Are Lions hosts for the purpose of empowering others, encouraging creativity, and making custom t-shirts for participants. Students create art during this workshop. They can use paint, markers, crayons, colored pencils The possibilities are endless! We then make the drawings into t-shirts for available purchase. How does the t-shirt process work? We host this workshop for a specified period of time, collect the artwork, and print this artwork on a t-shirt. Students who order a custom t-shirt will have their t-shirt delivered back to their school within two-three weeks.
5

Over 300 young people have participated in We Are Lions workshops in schools, camps, and philanthropy events. Our workshops are open to students of all ages and levels of experience. Artists and educators serve as instructors, encouraging student commitment to the highest standards. Classes are kept small to ensure that individual attention can be given to everyone. The workshops are committed to raising money for school systems and providing assistance to staff.

WAL workshops also maintain an active exhibition program outside of the school system with a series of exhibitions presenting diverse aspects of the arts and crafts industry that relate to our workshops and the people we serve. More than 1,000 people have visited these exhibitions since We Are Lions inception. All exhibitions are open to the public.

We Are Lions
Our mission at We Are Lions is to provide students the opportunity to develop their artistic skills and creative vision. We Are Lions creates a uniquely inspiring environment that is a catalyst for artistic creation and fun. Our special environment encourages students to focus on their creativity and thrive in the company of their fellow students and instructor. Our workshops and classes explore many art forms, encompassing paint, collage, mixed media, and many others.

Our Philosophy --Arts can and should be included in school curriculums to be therapeutic and help youth address some of the issues that they are experiencing in their lives through artistic mediums. Moreover, learning about art is a catalyst for cultural growth. The fusion of art, education, and fashion allows students to grow culturally and creatively while simultaneously allowing them the opportunity to positively express themselves.
6

Whether discovering a brand new passion for art, refining a talent, or expanding creative repertoire, the supportive, welcoming environment that We Are Lions provides lets students comfortably stretch the boundaries of their imagination. Youll find that the We Are Lions experience is different than any other art workshop. During each workshop, a We Are Lions professional educates the class on a particular art form ranging from animation, to the history of the illustrations of Mickey Mouse. We also show your students the process of creating t-shirts. Our relaxed environment gives students a wealth of knowledge, hands-on experience with their own creations, and the opportunity to progress personal artistic growth. We Are Lions gives ALL children the opportunity to participate in a workshop, regardless if a t-shirt has been purchased or not. We make the workshop available to all who want to participate. Workshops are available for students of all ages and abilities. We can travel from classroom to classroom and we can make t-shirts for the entire school! The possibilities are endless and we are flexible and open to new ideas. We Are Lions is an educational and cultural resource devoted to fostering creativity through participation. We Are Lions affirms its commitment to making its programs available to a broad and diverse population.

Who We Are
David Schwartz
Undergrad at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Major: Psychology

Jonathon Schwartz
Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University 2011 Majors: International Studies, Sociology Minor: Spanish Attending graduate school at Loyola University Chicago Candidate for Masters of Education 2012 Candidate for Education Specialist 2015

Jami Shlensky
Undergrad at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Major: Special Education

We Are Lions
We Are Lions Lincolnwood, IL 60712 wearelions.org