Founded in 1977, Free Arts uses art to help children from marginalized populations recover from the trauma of racism, discrimination, abuse, incarcerated parents, homelessness and poverty. Childhood trauma is widely recognized as a serious problem that disproportionately affects African American and Latino children. Adult survivors are 33% more likely to suffer from mental illness, addiction, teen pregnancy, criminal behavior and abusive relationships as adults, unwittingly recreating a cycle of poverty and violence.