Magnify

Photo by Marni Rothschild Durlach

When education budgets get slashed, John gets busy. As founder, director and chief dreamer of SideWalk Chalk, a non-profit organization that supplements arts education in Charleston public schools, John sees potential instead of deficit. He began SideWalk Chalk by offering a creative writing workshop for fourth graders at Sanders Clyde Elementary School last March, and publishing a book of the kids' work. Soon other schools were inquiring, and now John brings professional artists of all stripes—dancers, photographers, painters and writers—into all Title 1 downtown elementary schools to implement programs that follow state education standards. A former pastor, his unbridled energy and enthusiasm can sway even nonbelievers—the folks who see art education as "extra"-curricular, not fundamental. "Writing and self-expression has been a savior for me," says John. "Art inspires life in so many ways. But even more, it's about showing these kids that life can be whatever they want it to be."

The best thing about wearing a skirt? "In a skirt and my boots, my legs look fabulous."

His favorite thing about reading skirt!?"I read it for the articles."