From Graveyards to Growth: The Journey of Jennie Lobato and drawchange

Jennie Lobato on front page of local newspaper: June 1996

At drawchange, we believe art is the most powerful language of all—a profound tool for healing and change. Our founder, Jennie Lobato, learned this truth firsthand. What began as her personal journey using a paintbrush to navigate life's darker moments evolved into an undeniable vision: to empower vulnerable children worldwide.

A Young Artist with an Unconventional Vision

In 1996, a 17-year-old Jennie Lobato made headlines on the front page of the Jersey Journal with an article titled “Her Brush with Death.” Jennie was recognized for her unique and bold artistic vision. For the contest, she painted “Westside Graveyard” in Paul Cézanne style, a painting that earned her a trip to France and marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of creativity and resilience.

Artwork that won competition: "demonstrate that you understand Paul Cezanne's style"

While her peers focused on technique, Jennie turned inward, using abstraction as a way to process and heal from the darker moments in her life. Through color and movement, she made sense of what words couldn’t express. Jennie transformed the inner turmoil and gritty streets of Jersey City into powerful expressions of emotion, hope, and possibility. Her art became both refuge and revelation, reflecting a deep empathy for the unseen and a determination to find beauty in even the hardest places.

Finding Purpose: From Art to Empowerment

Jennie as a child.

As Jennie continued her education at the Maryland Institute College of Art, her creative vision evolved. She began to see art not just as a form of expression, but as a universal language that connects, heals, and empowers. This realization laid the foundation for drawchange, the nonprofit organization she later founded to bring the healing power of art to children.

Through drawchange, Jennie transformed her belief in art’s potential into action: creating art therapy-based programs that help children unlock their potential, nurture imagination, and strengthen self-esteem. What once began as a personal exploration of emotion through art has grown into a global movement of healing and hope.

The drawchange Impact

Today, drawchange serves children from Atlanta to Addis Ababa, bringing consistent, trauma-informed programming to communities that need it most. Our organization’s mission remains simple yet profound: to use art as a vehicle for emotional growth, resilience, and self-discovery.

Children creating art with volunteer.

Each brushstroke, each creation, and each moment of connection reflects the same spirit that once inspired Jennie’s early work: transforming pain into purpose and creativity into change.

Continuing the Legacy

From the graveyards of Jersey City to classrooms and shelters around the world, Jennie’s journey reminds us that art can do more than decorate—it can heal, empower, and inspire.

Learn more about our founder’s story and join us in continuing her mission. Together, we can bring art, healing, and hope to children everywhere.