Elevating Young Minds Through Emotions, Art, and InnovationÂ
School-age children today, regardless of background, face a myriad of challenges that deeply affect their mental and emotional well-being. The rise of internet use and social media has led to increased exposure to cyberbullying, where children can be harassed or shamed online, often without a safe space to retreat. This constant digital connectivity fuels anxiety, comparison, and body image issues.
Additionally, the pandemic has had a lasting impact, disrupting social development, leading to learning loss, and increasing feelings of isolation. Many children are also facing the fear of gun violence in schools, creating a culture of heightened security and lockdown drills. Alongside these pressures, children are navigating academic stress, peer relationships, identity struggles, and mental health concerns. In this complex environment, young people are under tremendous stress and in need of emotional support and resources to foster resilience and well-being.
These challenges are significant for all children but can be especially pronounced in underserved communities where access to emotional support and creative outlets is limited. That’s why I’ve launched the BrainArts 4-Part Workshop Series, designed to help children build emotional resilience, practice gratitude, and express themselves through creativity. This program is crafted to support the emotional well-being of all children, providing them with the tools to navigate their challenges and thrive in today’s complex world.
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Why This Workshop Matters
This workshop gives children the opportunity to learn vital Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) skills through creative activities such as self-expression portraits, reflective poetry, meditative watercolor paintings, and mindfulness drawing. These activities help children manage stress, develop empathy, and strengthen their emotional well-being, which are especially important for students in underserved communities. By offering this program, I want to ensure the children have the tools and skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.
My goal is to present this program to one school and one grade as a pilot program. This pilot will allow me to assess the workshop’s impact on students and determine how to expand it to reach more children, including foster children and those identified as at-risk. The program will also be available to organizations such as the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other community groups that support vulnerable youth.
For schools, sponsoring one 5th-grade class of 30 students costs $1,950. For an entire grade, which consists of about three classes in Georgia, the cost would be $5,850. The more we raise, the more children we can reach with this life-changing program.
DONATEIntegrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) with artistic expression and neuroscience insights.
Neuroscience Insights to Foster Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Growth
At the heart of our programs lies a unique blend of neuroscience insights and artistic expression, designed to help students not only understand and manage their emotions but also reshape their cognitive pathways for long-term benefits. While traditional social and emotional learning (SEL) programs often focus on teaching concepts of self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation, we recognize that simply learning about these concepts is not enough. For students to genuinely apply these skills in real-life situations, they need a deeper understanding of how their brains influence their thoughts, emotions, and actions.
By incorporating neuroscience principles, we guide students to explore how their brains function and how neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form and reorganize connections in response to learning and experience—plays a role in their emotional responses. This knowledge is crucial because it helps students make the connection between their emotional experiences and their brain’s natural processes, allowing them to develop strategies that are grounded in science.
Through targeted activities like mindfulness drawing, reflective poetry, and meditative painting, students engage in experiences that activate and strengthen key brain regions responsible for self-regulation, empathy, and creativity. These activities are designed to create new neural pathways, enhancing their ability to process emotions, build resilience, and develop focus.
The integration of neuroscience provides a transformative experience where students not only learn what emotional intelligence is but also understand why and how it works. This deeper understanding equips them to practice and internalize these skills, enabling them to navigate complex emotional landscapes and respond thoughtfully to challenges in real-world scenarios.
Ultimately, our goal is to go beyond traditional SEL by equipping students with both the practical tools and scientific knowledge needed to truly transform their emotional and cognitive development. In doing so, we cultivate a generation that is not only emotionally aware but also resilient, adaptive, and prepared to thrive in all areas of life.
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The Impact of Your Sponsorship
The full series allows children to build on the emotional and creative lessons learned in each session, giving them a more comprehensive understanding of gratitude, empathy, and emotional regulation.
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How You Can Help
By sponsoring a child, you’re helping them develop skills like emotional regulation, empathy, and mindfulness, which not only improve emotional well-being but also support better academic performance. These skills are critical for children in underserved communities who may not have access to other forms of emotional and creative support.
For just $65, you can sponsor one child’s participation in the entire BrainArts 4-Part Workshop Series. Your sponsorship will provide them with all the materials and support they need to attend all four workshops, where they’ll learn how to express their emotions through art and practice essential SEL and EI skills.
Sponsor a child for the entire 4-part workshop series for $65.
Join Me in Supporting The Children
I invite you to sponsor a child today. For just $65, you’ll give a child the full benefit of this life-changing program, helping them learn essential emotional skills through creative expression.
Even a partial sponsorship can make a difference, and your generosity will go directly towards providing these children with the emotional and creative tools they need to thrive.
Sponsor a Child
Hello, I'm Denise Marie Filmore!
Fine Artist, Storyteller, Poet
Emotional Mastery Expert
Neuroscience Strategist
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We often encounter unexpected challenges while navigating the mosaic journey of life, but it's during these moments that our true potential reveals itself. A significant life event altered my course, offering profound insight into the depths of human resilience and the power of emotional mastery.
This mission is deeply personal to me. In 2016, I lost my 29-year-old son and 10-month-old grandson at the hands of a drunk driver. During that incredibly difficult time, I turned to neuroscience and emotional mastery to help me heal and process my grief.
These emotional learning tools were a lifeline for me, inspiring me to pursue a neuroscience degree with a psychology minor. Through these studies, I’ve deepened my understanding of the brain and emotions, and I’m committed to sharing what I’ve learned with children who may be facing their own emotional struggles.
 My Experience in Supporting Children, Parents, and Educators
For years, I’ve been dedicated to supporting children, teens, parents, and even senior citizens by offering programs that blend emotional learning, creativity, and neuroscience insights. My experience spans a wide array of communities in New York City, where I have provided services through summer camps in underserved areas, afterschool programs for K-12 public schools, foster care organizations, boys and girls group homes, and collaborations with the Department of Justice, focusing on youth in the juvenile justice system. These experiences have allowed me to reach individuals often overlooked or underserved, offering them a safe space to explore their emotions, express themselves creatively, and build resilience.
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My Advocacy Work in NYC
As an advocate for parents of special needs children at the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, I have worked closely with families—especially those with unique challenges—to ensure they have the resources and support needed to foster their children’s success. I’ve facilitated workshops in NYC public schools and foster care organizations, empowering parents and educators with practical, neuroscience-backed tools to support children’s emotional resilience and growth. My role as a Committee Member of the NYC Department of Education District 75 further enhanced my understanding of the challenges families face and the transformative impact emotional intelligence has on child development. In 2007, I became the Cub Scout Master for NYC’s only Cub Scout troop dedicated to children with diverse needs. During that year, I focused on building a welcoming and empowering environment that allowed each child to grow in confidence and community.
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My Background
In each setting, I’ve seen firsthand how art, poetry, and emotional education can transform lives, especially for young people navigating difficult circumstances. Whether working with children in public schools, group homes, foster care, or with youth in the juvenile justice system, I have consistently used creative tools and mindfulness techniques to help them process emotions and develop life skills like empathy, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. My background as a poet and fine artist specializing in oil painting, watercolor, and pen and ink allows me to integrate creative expression into my programs, helping children and families explore their emotions through both visual and written mediums, and fostering emotional and cognitive growth.
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My Commitment
My commitment to this work is further supported by my academic pursuits; I am currently majoring in neuroscience with a minor in psychology. This education deepens my understanding of how the brain and emotions interact, allowing me to design programs that nurture emotional intelligence, support brain health, and promote cognitive development.
By combining my academic studies with hands-on experience, I aim to make a lasting impact—providing children, parents, and educators with the tools to build resilience, foster emotional intelligence, and thrive both inside and outside the classroom. My mission is to continue creating opportunities for emotional growth, self-expression, and academic and life success across diverse communities.
 A Special Thank You
You'll receive a photo of your sponsored child’s artwork and poem, along with a personal thank-you note. We hope this gift brings you joy as a token of our appreciation for your kindness and support.
The moment we reach $1,950, we will implement the program and start changing lives.
Additionally, Grace Pier Project, Inc. is in the process of securing its 501(c)(3) status. Once approved, we will notify you, and your donation will be eligible for a tax write-off.
- Sponsor a Child Now: Sponsor a child for $65 and make a lasting impact.
- Partner with Others:Â Join three friends or family members to collectively sponsor a child for the full series!
- Make a Donation: If you’re unable to sponsor a child, you can still contribute! Any donation of $25 or more helps bring this program to more children in need.
- Share: Even if you can’t sponsor a child or make a donation, sharing this campaign with others helps us reach more children in need.
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting emotional learning and creativity for children.
Get in touch to explore other programs through the Grace Pier Project!
MindfulSTEAM: Scientific Exploration & Emotional Insight
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STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) principles are woven into the MindfulSTEAMÂ program to offer a well-rounded, reflective learning experience.Â
The MindfulSTEAM program combines emotional intelligence with hands-on scientific exploration.
Students engage in mindfulness-based meditation practices and innovative projects such as building heart monitors and brainwave tracking devices to deepen their understanding of their emotional and physiological responses.
Integrating emotional awareness with scientific inquiry, students become empowered to explore the connection between their minds and bodies, fostering self-discovery, resilience, and a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.
Beyond Brilliance: Empowering Emotional Intelligence and Resilience
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Beyond Brilliance is a transformative program that combines neuroscience insights with a holistic approach to help children develop emotional intelligence and resilience for lifelong success.
Designed for parents who want to support their child’s growth, this program provides practical tools to foster empathy, self-awareness, and confidence.
Nurturing both emotional and cognitive growth, families are equipped with skills that support personal well-being, strengthen family bonds, and inspire a love for learning.
Through engaging activities and real-world strategies, Beyond Brilliance empowers families to create a positive environment where children and parents grow together—building a foundation of emotional strength and brilliance beyond the classroom.
Finance Forward: Emotional Learning & Financial Literacy
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Finance Forward is an innovative program that teaches essential financial knowledge alongside emotional intelligence to prepare students for real-world challenges.
Created to help students understand how the world revolves around money and how financial decisions influence opportunities, stability, and personal well-being.
Through interactive lessons and practical tools, Finance Forward equips students with the skills to manage money confidently and make informed choices, fostering a foundation of financial literacy and emotional resilience.
When students understand the emotional factors behind spending, saving, and investing, they gain the insight needed to thrive in a world where financial literacy is crucial for lasting success. Â
Follow the Leader: Empowering Parents to Guide Their Adolescent’s Emotional Growth
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Follow the Leader is a unique program designed for parents of adolescents ages 10 to 24, equipping them with the tools to become inspiring role models for their child’s emotional development—all without requiring the adolescent to participate directly.
This stage of development is a crucial time, shaping the habits and emotional strengths that will guide adolescents into adulthood.
Through this transformative approach, parents build their own emotional intelligence and learn how to create meaningful experiences and adventures that foster growth beyond the home and school.
Grounded in neuroscience and designed to be engaging, Follow the Leader encourages parents to create bonding moments that cultivate empathy, resilience, and confidence.
These shared adventures help young people build social and emotional strength in a fun, natural way, setting them on a path to thrive emotionally and socially.
