FOUNDATION HISTORY
The Natasha Love Foundation-Unity through the Art was established in memory of Natasha Love Gonsalves, an 18-year-old High School Graduate whose life was taken due to an act of teen violence on March 20, 2008.
Natasha Love Gonsalves (birth name) was a sensitive, supportive, sympathetic humanitarian activist and a self-accomplished young lady in the arts. She believed in giving and recognizing the essential aspects that made her grow and achieve balance in life.
We are a small not-for-profit 501c3 organization that depends mainly on the generosity of family, friends, and local merchants who contribute each year to our Inspiration of Love live visual arts exhibitions and performances put together by our young people demonstrating non-violence through the arts.
Rebecca Flores, MS, CAGS, REAT
Principal Founder & President
Inspire Our Youth Through The Arts”
“Introducing our youth to the arts is introducing them into the future of our communities. I believe that when young people are inspired and chasing their dreams, they are more likely to steer away from violence and destructive behaviors.” ~Rebecca Flores~
Rebecca Flores is the mother of Natasha Love Gonsalves. From the time Natasha was born up until the day she left us, Rebecca worked hard to make sure that Natasha attained the necessary skills needed to become the individual she longed sought as a young vocalist, visual artist, poet, model, and business women. To continue her daughter’s legacy, Ms. Flores established The Natasha Love Foundation in 2008 to promote awareness of teen violence and inspire our youth through arts and education.
In 2011, Ms. Flores self-published a book in honor of her daughter, Poems To My Daughter – Poemas Para Mi Hija: My Journey in Healing, and was the catalyst for mentoring and teaching therapeutic art, her traveling art exhibitions, lectures on teen violence and mental health awareness.
Ms. Flores was born in New York City and raised in the South Bronx. Her parents are the first generation of Puerto Rican Descent. She graduated from Salve Regina University with a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Studies (CAGS) in Holistic & Expressive Arts. She is also a graduate of Grand Canyon University, with a Graduate Certificate in Health Psychology, Master’s degree in Psychology, and Bachelors of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency, and Substance Abuse and psychology.
Rebecca currently lives in Cranston, Rhode Island, and is an International Expressive Art Therapist. Flores is working voraciously, mastering her career in the mental health field. She was a teaching artist for Roger Williams Middle School through CityArts/Americorp and a community artist mentor for Central Falls High School, Boys and Girls Club, and worked with The Providence Center. She teaches art, is an expressive arts facilitator for women’s groups and young people, and designs art integrated programs using art and poetry for under-represented youth as a vehicle for improving and enhancing a physical, emotional, social, and psychological awareness (www.rebeccafloresartist.com).
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Rebecca Flores, Principal Founder & President
Thomas McGovern, Vice President
Karen Bristow, Secretary
Grisel Lopez, Treasurer
BOARD MEMBERS
Stacey Chaffee
Joshua I. Gorra
ADVISORS
Mark Laroche, Attorney
John “JR” Pagliarini, Senior Executive Advisor
Heriberto Gonzalez, Financial Advisor
Sandra Olivo Peterson, Public Relations
Lammis J. Vargas, Community Relations Advisor
Hillary Williamson, Event Advisor
Warren Simmons
Grace Gonzalez
Steve Chaffee
Scott Duhamel
Lydia Perez
Ane Mendiburu
Robert Lima, Sr.
PROGRAM FACILITATORS
Rebecca Flores – Expressive Arts
Jean Colaneri – Yoga
YOUTH AMBASSADORS
Joshua E. Amado
Rubi Tiburcio
Rene Richardson
Orlando Santos, Jr.
Giabella Childs
Every Gift Counts!
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FIND YOUR INNER POWER BY SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH
THE NATASHA LOVE FOUNDATION 