Salem High School partners with the Memory Project to bring smiles to children in South America

Here is a fun fact about Salem High School’s IB Art Teacher Mike Gibson: he has been a Spartan employee for the last 26 years.

There isn’t just one thing that Mike enjoys about his job. He enjoys seeing students grow artistically, teaching the basics of art and witnessing students continue art opportunities outside of his classroom. Over the years, his students have gone on to graduate with an art degree from James Madison University, Virginia Tech, Savannah State and the Pratt Institute in New York City among other well-thought-of institutions.

“My responsibilities consist of being the Department Chair for the Visual Arts and Performing Arts,” Gibson said. “I also teach art foundations, advanced drawing and painting.” Something else that Mike takes great pride in is partnering with organizations that make a difference in the world.

The Memory Project is a youth non-profit that invites art teachers and students throughout America to help cultivate global kindness by creating portraits for children around the world who have faced substantial challenges.

In September, all of Salem High School’s IB Art Teachers met with Assistant Principal Chris Wilkes in his office to discuss a variety of issues.  Students experiencing the world within the classroom were among the topics broached.

“I went to the IB Global Conference this summer in San Diego, California, where I met people from all over the world. We were encouraged to think globally and teach locally,” Assistant Principal Wilkes said. “When this portrait project came to my attention, I thought it was a great way to connect Salem High School with the world.”

Added Mike: “Since I have been here, I never had an opportunity like this project. It’s just a pleasure to see your students get on fire for something like this. I hope their talents help make a child feel good about themselves.”

Claire Peterson, 16, was excited about doing a selfless act of kindness. The high school junior is interested in working for a non-profit organization one day. Emma Crowe, like her friend Claire, was also on board with her assignment from day one.

“We were all given a child that lives outside of America; my child’s name was Daniella,” Crowe said. “Many of them don’t have the privileges that we enjoy. It’s amazing how something as simple as a portrait can bring so much joy to a child.”

This isn’t the first time that Brooke Baxley has created a portrait for someone. As an elementary school pupil, she drew a picture of her family and gave it to them as a holiday gift. “There is nothing better than bringing joy to a child. I will continue to do things like this in the future,” she said.

Once all of the portraits are complete, and the information is gathered, the Memory Project will send Mike a video of the South America students receiving their portraits and reacting to them in real time.