Heartizens is a community arts organization based in Healdsburg, California, providing inclusive, hands-on programming in the arts, creativity, and mental wellness for youth, teens, and adults across Sonoma County. We believe that creativity is a fundamental human need — one that builds resilience, fosters self-expression, and strengthens the connections between people and communities.
Our core programming spans five areas:
Performing Arts — including afterschool theater in partnership with Redwood Theater Company, hip hop street dance led by award-winning dancer Ben Donner, and Brazilian-inspired percussion and dance through Bloco Sol.
Visual & Literary Arts — including painting studio, ceramics for youth and adults in partnership with Sonoma Arts School, and community poetry and storytelling through our Artsburgh Art/Word series.
Cultural & Practical Arts — including sewing classes, upcycling workshops (Thrift to Thread), and large-scale community art through our Street Puppet Brigade and Healdsburg Scarecrow Festival.
STEM & Maker Programs — including our competitive Healdsburg Robotics Team and summer robotics intensive for middle and high school students.
Arts-Integrated Mental Wellness — including Healing Strings, our flagship program in partnership with Corazón Healdsburg’s From Ashes We Rise, which combines guitar instruction with facilitated healing circles for at-risk youth ages 10–18.
Heartizens serves participants across the full arc of the year through classes, multi-week series, summer camps, community events, and one-time workshops — many offered at no cost to participants. We actively remove financial barriers, provide meals where needed, and partner with schools, counselors, and community organizations to reach Sonoma County’s most underserved youth and families. Our studio space also serves as a welcoming community hub, hosting partner organizations whose work aligns with our mission of creativity, connection, and belonging for all.