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ANNOUNCING 2020 ART SWEETHEART BONNIE MCMANUS

On Friday, February 14, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Creative 360 will host a Yes We Can! luncheon in honor of this year’s Art Sweetheart, Bonnie McManus. Guests will enjoy hearing and sharing stories about Bonnie along with a delicious lunch catered by Northwood University’s NADA Hotel and Conference Center. Make your reservations to attend the celebratory luncheon by calling 989-837-1885 no later than Monday, February 10. Space is limited. Cost is $30 for the event.

Each year, Creative 360 honors a Great Lakes Bay Region arts advocate who has made significant contributions through exceptional vision, leadership and commitment to the arts. This year the nonprofit chose Bonnie McManus for her untiring dedication to her field of social work combined with her love for the arts.

As a Licensed Master Social Worker, ACSW, Bonnie has tirelessly dedicated herself to advocating for youth, the elderly and families for more than thirty years. She facilitated the merger of the Midland Area Partnership for Drug Free Youth with The Legacy Center; served as CEO, program coordinator and therapist for Family and Children’s Services; provided assessment and referral services for the elderly and their families for Manpower Health Care, Medical Personnel Pool and Birchwood Manor. She was also involved in the school system and served as sociology adjunct for both Hope College and Saginaw Valley State University; social worker for Holland Public Schools and taught Spanish in California, Mexico City and Michigan.

Bonnie continues to be active in the community and beyond. As a volunteer, she has been involved with organizations like Rotary, Zonta, Midland Chamber of Commerce, Matrix Midland, Dow Chemical Community Advisory Panel, Lunch Box Learners, the Health and Human Services Council, Creative 360 (President in 2011), Children’s Grief Center, Barstow Airport, and many recognize her as Mrs. Santa Claus.

Bonnie joins our honor roll of Sweethearts that includes Dorothy Yates, Ginny Morrison, Barbara Prince-Sovereen, Sally Moss, Judy Rapanos, Nancy Barker, Janet I. Martineau, Ruby Iwamasa, Patty Shaheen, Dick and Donna Dolinski, Ruth and Etcyl Blair, Eugene Yehle, Alice Ralston, Gerry Hath, Paula Ulmer and Junia Doan.

About Yes We Can!

Seven years ago, Creative 360 developed an innovative program designed to recognize and honor the contributions of people who are 80 and over in a way that respects their knowledge and taps into their legacy of creativity. This amazing segment of our population has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. The Yes We Can! program gives people of all ages ongoing opportunities to engage with, and learn from, this dynamic group of senior presenters.

Since the program began in the winter of 2014, Creative 360 has celebrated more than 350 Great Lakes Bay artists, scholars, scientists, and community leaders. These octogenarians inspire everyone to be more active and to realize we can all be contributing community members at any age!

Thanks to Garber Automotive, Gavin and Associates, Janet Martineau, Northwood University’s NADA Hotel and Conference Center, and Space Studios for sponsoring this year’s program. For more information about Yes We Can!, go to Creative 360’s website at becreative360.org or call 989-837-1885.

If you know of someone who is (or soon will be) 80 or above and should be considered as part of future Yes We Can! programs, please contact Creative 360 at 989-837-1885 or by email at creed@becreative360.org.

About Creative 360
Creative 360 is celebrating 25 years as a not-for-profit community arts and wellness organization. 25 years ago, Cynthia Keefe and Linda Z. Smith founded “The Creative Spirit Center” with a vision to make creativity accessible to all. Since then, the nonprofit has become Creative 360 and welcomed countless people through its doors to express, expand and experience the creative process in all its forms. Creative 360’s mission is to create environments that allow people of all ages and abilities to experience the creative process, and to enhance physical, mental and spiritual wellness through the arts and humanities. The organization’s core values of inclusiveness, creativity, respect and community drive the culture at Creative 360. Activities at Creative 360 are supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, Midland Area Community Foundation and the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation.

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