Conversations with Terri DiGennaro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Terri DiGennaro.

Hi Terri, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers. 
My 23-year-old passed away in 2015 while painting a mural… Ryan Giambattista was a postal worker and artist who had a passion and love for all forms of art; he personally experienced the therapeutic benefits of artistic expression. His talents were not limited to traditional forms of art on paper; instead, he chose the walls of several blighted buildings in Youngstown as his canvas for color murals and designs- all with his signature “tag” HELMS. Ryan’s art brought life back to buildings that have been forgotten and left with stories of “the good ole days.” The history and strength of those walls provided a canvas for new ideas, designs, and purpose. From the money received from his passing, our family gave money to the local Mental Health and Recovery Board and the Butler Art Institute (this money provides summer youth art programs to those who cannot afford it). The Mental Health Board gave money to our local NAMI to start an art program at HELP HOTLINE Community Center. The program grew after the first year. This is when I started to get involved by raising funds to keep the program going; this led to the awareness that mental health providers do not have art supplies or programs. After many, many phone calls, I learned what Art Therapy/Therapist is. I wondered why we did not have these services available in our area? It became my personal mission to bring Art Therapy to Mahoning Valley, 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. This is not the way I wanted to learn about Art Therapy, but I did. It has been a struggle to educate a community and community leaders that this is not a “sip and paint” profession. Art Therapy is not licensed in Ohio, which means it is not a billable service. Organizations do not want to be involved with anything that does not affect their bottom line. Funding is a nightmare for a service that is foreign to them and not part of traditional therapy. Finding employees is challenging because there are no local Art Therapy providers or programs to bring them into our area. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am just a mom who has had her worst fear happen. I needed to have a reason to get up in the morning and get out of bed. I needed to still be a mom and be part of my sons’ ideas, dreams, and expressive, art-filled personal therapeutic journey. 

I am most proud of my family, my children, their strengths and accomplishments (personally and professionally) 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I am born, raised, and very familiar with my city. We are a proud, ethnic and resilient community,,, this is what I like best. We are not progressive; they think they are, but they are not. This is what I dislike. 

Contact Info:

• Website: HELMSmv.org
• Instagram: theHELMSFoundation
• Facebook: The Ryan Giambattista HELMS Foundation
• Linkedin: the Ryan Giambattista HELMS Founation