Artistic Expression: How Kim Goodwin is Spearheading Art for Elk Grove Students

How The Matthew Goodwin Celebration of Life Art Scholarship advocates for mental health and art for students in Elk Grove.

Elk Grove, CA - Oscar Wilde wrote in an essay, "Life is to find expression, and that Art offers it certain beautiful forms through which it may realize that energy." The Matthew Goodwin Celebration of Life Art Scholarship, founded by Kim Goodwin, aims for Elk Grove and Valley students to have the tools for their creative expression.

Kim, who holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Sacramento State, said in an interview with We Are Sacramento Podcast, Kim stated, "I always knew I was going to start a scholarship, but I didn't know how I could make the most impact." Named after her older brother, who passed away in 2007 due to suicide, The Mattew Goodwin Celebration of Life Art Scholarship serves to help senior students pursue their creative endeavors while fostering mental well-being during their transition into college.

"Kim has put in a lot of effort to build relationships with the recipients - which is much appreciated." - Breanna Duong

Since establishing itself in Elk Grove, The Matthew Goodwin Celebration of Life Art's central focus is Elk Grove High School and Valley High School. "To start at my brother and I's alma mater felt right, and we wanted to expand to Valley High School - because their voices need to be heard too." According to kidsdata.org, the high school dropout rate for black and brown students of Sacramento County ballooned to 23.9% in 2020, compared to Contra Costa County's 8.9% and Alameda County's 9.2%.

The Sacramento County Grand Jury, cited in an investigation for education improvement, "Art, music, sports, and technical classes help keep students engaged in school." Kim said, "to see his art in the Crocker Museum and support from The Sacramento General Congress of Women was a big honor." Kim further stated, "Matty's story is bigger than suicide - he was a vibrant person that would give you the shirt off of his back, make sure you ate, and was a kind soul."

Nicole Yap

Wynter Gorre Clancy, one of eleven scholarship recipients, stated, "really eased my anxiety about applying to other scholarships." Wynter further mentioned, "Kim was lovely and personal, and I feel like it prepared me for college." Breanna Duong, a UC Irvine student who majors in Business Administration with a minor in Digital Art, said, "I'm interested in digital art, and I'm looking to go into marketing; I want to combine my love for digital art and business together." Breanna further stated, "Beside the huge help the scholarship provided with paying for tuition, Kim has put in a lot of effort to build relationships with the recipients - which is much appreciated."

Another recipient, Lily Truong, said, "I feel like I was on track and happy to be around people who shared the same focus as me." Lily stated, "I love how Kim was very understanding, and she made understanding the scholarship process easy." When asked about the highlights of the scholarship program, Lily said, "The process was easy, and I didn't feel scared when it came to the scholarship; plus, along with the scholarship package, we got a complimentary photo shoot."

Mandie Doan, a fellow recipient of The Matthew Goodwin Celebration Life Arts Scholarship and business major, is looking to transfer into a four-year to focus on film studies. When asked about her experience, Mandie said, "Kim gave us a lot of freedom when it comes to our essay and art submission; plus, Kim is great and is very supportive of me and the others." Mandie also stated, "Kim was one of the first adults I've talked to that fully supported me with film because it is not the ideal pathway."

Lynn Vang

According to a survey by brookings.edu and The Houston Education Research Consortium, the substantial increase in arts educational experiences remarkably impacts students' academic, social, and emotional outcomes. Students experienced a 3.6% point reduction in disciplinary infractions, an improvement of 13% of a standard deviation in standardized writing scores, and an increase of 8% of a standard deviation in their compassion for others. "Students who received more arts education experiences are more interested in how other people feel and more likely to want to help mistreated people," stated Brian Kisida, Assistant Professor, Truman School of Public Affairs - University of Missouri. According to createca.org, students with an art education are five times less likely to drop out of school and four times more likely to receive a bachelor's degree.

Ezequiel Taleno

Recipient Lynn Vang stated, "Art takes many different forms and meanings for everyone, but to me, it's a medium for which I can express my emotions. The art industry is an ever-expanding and growing community built upon innovation and emotion - I strive to be a big part of it!" Ezequiel Taleno said, "I've always been interested in capturing real moments of places and things because cameras have the power to capture things the way they are. These photos represent my upbringing and identity, no matter how forgotten these places may seem." Other Recipients included Ximena Ramirez Gonzalez, Jose Ruvalcaba Martinez, Nicole Yap, Lily Wilber, and Hana Horikoshi.

Other known supporters of Kim's Art Scholarship vision have been The Atrium and Kachsidie Madu. Kim stated, "Shira has created [The Atrium] a beautiful art space for local creatives and has been the home of our Award Night & Meet and Greets." Kim further stated, "our program photographer Kachiside Madu, owner of Make It Madu Images and EGUSD school counselor, has been making waves in the city."

As an Arts Now-Leader, Kim Goodwin advocates for the Elk Grove Unified School District to create lasting change. Her efforts remain a lightning rod of hope for mental health advocacy. Kim's unwavering dedication to empowering kids to embrace their creative skills for an innovative future through The Matthew Goodwin Celebration of Life Scholarship will continue to help the community.

"I know he [Matthew] would love to know his name lives on to help youth excel and share their artistic capabilities with the world." - Kim Goodwin