.webp){kind=logo}
Our Mission & Vision
Discover the heart of our organization as we share our mission and vision. Learn how we're dedicated to spreading the universal language of 'good' and fostering a connected, compassionate world through art and education.
Discover the heart of our organization as we share our mission and vision. Learn how we're dedicated to spreading the universal language of 'good' and fostering a connected, compassionate world through art and education.
.webp)
To connect the meaning of good from around the world to empower youth to become positive activists through art and discussion.Through mindfulness and social emotional learning (SEL) based art programming and public art projects, our mission is to transcend the message that no matter where you go in the world, good means the same to all of us and that is what connects us as human beings.
At TSG, we see a world where people everywhere use art to create cross-cultural understanding, break societal barriers, and foster empathy in order to cultivate peaceful, just, and more connected communities around the world.
When our #FearlessFounder, Priya Shah, began her photo blog âThe Simple Goodâ in 2012, she had no idea that it would be the start of her international arts non-profit.Inspired by her travels and global volunteer work, The Simple Good blog was the place for her to share the positivity she found everyday with the world. She invited her friends across the globe to share moments of positivity, hope, and joy, moments that she called âsimple goodâ.Within a week, the blog went viral, with visitors and photo submissions on the meaning of the âsimple goodâ from all over the world. Priya received countless messages from people expressing their gratitude for the positive intervention they didnât realize they needed.She recognized that the world was ready to connect with one another by sharing their âsimple goodâ stories!
Priya hosted a public art exhibition and featured the most popular photos from The Simple Good  blog. Each guest was asked to bring in a photo of their own âsimple goodâ as an entry ticket.This successful social experiment encouraged Priya to offer the experience to Chicago youth so they could share their meaning of the âsimple goodâ with the world.
Auburn Gresham, Chicago was home to our pilot youth arts program. The result was an incredible wave of interest from schools across Chicago! The Simple Good had arrived, and we became an official non-profit organization in August of 2014.
Fueled by a dream of seeing an inclusive platform that highlighted independent artists and celebrated, unified, and gave back to Chicagoâs community, we invited a group of Chicago artists to showcase the âsimple goodâ of Chicago.The funds for the concert-style event supported the launch of our new program and became the first City Of Big Dreams (COBD) Annual Fundraiser.
We continued the global dialogue by facilitating our first âsimple goodâ art exchange between artists from the United Kingdom and Chicago.
By facilitating a photography exchange between high school students in Roseland, Chicago and students in Moshi, Tanzania we expanded our global reach.We formalized our SEL & Mindfulness-based Arts curriculum, and integrated our projects into the programs we currently teach in schools, community organizations, and corporations.
In 2015, we expanded our programs into 6 Chicago schools. That same year we had our first public youth art showcase at Bridgeportâs Zhou B Art Center during the City of Chicagoâs 100th Anniversary Celebration.Across the ocean in Rwanda, we launched our international initiative, The Building Hope Project. As a result of The Building Hope Project, a new school was constructed to provide arts education and exploration for the children of Rwandan genocide survivors.
We deliver our Arts-based SEL programming to 1,000 students each year and serve 16+ communities across Chicago. Our commitment to empowering our young people grows each day.Our qualified teaching artists deliver a trauma-informed curriculum rooted in Social Emotional Learning that empowers our students with mindfulness tools and a positive worldview.Young people graduate our program with tools to support their mental wellbeing, help them grow in resilience, and become the positive leaders of the future. It all starts by finding your âsimple goodâ.Get involved by volunteering or partnering with us to help spread the âsimple goodâ around the world!
Join our movement to create a better future by empowering the next generation of leaders through art and discussion!
.png)