Building Community Through Art and Activism, with Evan La Ruffa

Evan La Ruffa is an urban kid who grew up in a multicultural home in Chicago. Surrounded by family and laughter he lives and breathes a joyful enthusiasm for life as an art form.

We talk about his mission to make great art available for everyone, how that heals communities from the inside out and how each of our own unique experiences lead us right where we need to be. He acknowledges the impact that seeing through the lens of what’s possible has had on his ability to do extraordinary and innovative things in the nonprofit space and world at large. 

Laugh along with this light hearted lighting strike of a human. Evan La Ruffa.

ABOUT EVAN LA RUFFA 

Evan La Ruffa lives and works at the intersection of the following:

Art + Entrepreneurship + Activism + Nonprofit Sustainability + Creative Future

He is an artist and the founder of I Paint My Mind, an organization that transforms people and spaces by connecting artists, businesses, and communities through art.

He currently serves as the Executive Director and Leader Curator where they have amassed an incredible collection of over 1100 pieces of original art, which they have exhibited in over 65 businesses and communities. 

Evan grew up in a multicultural home in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood - one of the most diverse communities in the entire United States. He went to bilingual immersion public school that focused on art + activism. 

He says “I was going to play soccer in college, got hurt, focused on activism, which led to my big question: how we can sustainably fund community work? And my big answer is: value + connection.” He’s been working to create both while making art more accessible to everyone ever since.

You can browse their collection at IPaintMyMind.org.