Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad Griffith.
Brad, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Clement Arts started as a way to bring together two things I am passionate about — artistic creativity and rescuing vulnerable children. Back in 2012, I was working on a solo recording project (I’m a singer/songwriter) while my best friend and a musical collaborator was pursuing adoption with his wife. I felt strongly that I should use my new album to raise funds for their adoption, so I began moving in that direction.
My friend’s adoption was the first time it occurred to me to use music or art to support “orphan care,” but I quickly saw the potential for doing many more such beautiful and merciful things through creative means. That idea turned into a non-profit called Clement Arts. I put together a board of directors and a loose community of local artists, and we began doing concerts and art shows to raise the adoption fund for local families.
Adoption is expensive — averaging around $30-40,000 — but we were seeing so many who were willing to step into vulnerable children’s lives despite that huge financial commitment. We wanted to give the community a way to surround these families with support in a way that was beneficial for everyone. The arts have a way of bringing people together and telling stories in a way that resonates. It’s a beautiful combination.
Since that small beginning, Clement Arts have grown tremendously. We now have two full-time staff members supporting two main programs. Our “Clement Kids” program offers art education classes in dance, visual art, music, and drama to kids across our community. Foster children are invited to attend tuition-free and the funds that are raised support local adoption grants. We have nearly 100 children in the Clement Kids program.
“Clement Care” is our foster care support program. There is a great shortage of foster homes across the state of Georgia compared to the number of children in care. We partner with local churches who want to respond to this foster care crisis by giving them a model for helping as well as the training and support to put their plan into action. We have nearly 20 churches in our Clement Care network, but that number is growing. In fact, we partner with an Atlanta-based non-profit called Promise 686 who is activating this foster support model all across our state and others.
Clement Arts still does arts-based adoption support events throughout each year, To date, we have raised over $123,000 for adoptions in our area. We are very grateful for what we get to do.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think there are many things worth doing that are easy. Anyone who has ever started a business or non-profit will tell you that there are many challenges.
First of all, I had no background in non-profit work when I started Clement Arts. I had to figure all of that out as I went, and at every stage of our growth, I have had to learn how to take that next step. In the beginning, it took some time to learn what we were good at and what we weren’t, what ideas were viable and which ones were not. You can’t be afraid to fail and try out new ideas. In fact, failing a lot in the beginning when the stakes are smaller can really set you up for success if you can learn to adapt and push through those hardships.
Being in an organization that does a lot of events, I can also tell you that hosting a successful event is very difficult. People are busier than ever, and there are so many options vying for people’s time and attention. So we’ve had to learn how to overcome those obstacles, but even with the lessons learned you have to work really hard each and every time to have success. You can’t take anything for granted.
Probably, the biggest challenge for me personally has been time. Even though we have 2 full-time staff members, I do not personally work full-time for Clement Arts. As the founder and Executive Director, that is a challenge. I have to find a way to balance my work commitments, family life, and non-profit leadership. It’s not easy, but it does bring a lot of joy.
Finally, I would say that nothing is possible if you don’t surround yourself with the right people. I have been very intentional — and very fortunate — to find the right people to bring along on this journey, whether board members, staff, volunteers, or just moral support. Without these amazing people, Clement Arts would have been just some crazy idea I had.
What else should our readers know?
I want to say that Clement Arts is best known for serving families and serving children in a way that is joyful and hope-filled. I believe that is true about us, and I hope others see that as well when they interact with us.
There are many impactful orphan care organizations and many excellent arts organizations. What makes Clement Arts unique is the marriage of those two missions combined with the Christian faith that informs and drives the work that we do.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
A resounding YES.
As I mentioned earlier, without the support of some amazing individuals, Clement Arts simply wouldn’t exist. Many of these people have served as board members, volunteers, and artists who have given of their talents. We have also seen the great generosity of our community members through their financial support, whether of Clement Arts programs or specific adoptive families we have come alongside.
In a real way, Clement Arts cannot take the credit for the impact that is being made for adoption and foster care in our community. We are simply the conduit by which our community can rally around families who are rescuing children in need.
Which leads me to the biggest difference-makers: the mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters who are opening up their homes and their hearts to make a place for the most vulnerable among us, the foster child and the orphan.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2303 Double Churches Road
Columbus, GA 31904 - Website: www.clement-arts.org
- Email: clementarts@clement-arts.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Clement_Arts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clementartsga
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Clement_Arts
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPdxaybPU7rk-jDH2B8Z3aQ/featured
Image Credit:
Jake Boswell
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