Your Impact
Stories of Transformation
At Daybreak Arts, we believe creativity and community can change lives.
CORE PROGRAM
Our Artist Collective Program gives adults who are experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity the chance to turn their artistic passion into income, independence, and opportunity. Many of our program participants face barriers to traditional employment due physical or intellectual disabilities, mental health challenges, trauma, incarceration, or the rising cost of housing, but through art, they find a way forward.
Through the program, artists earn income through art sales, teaching art, commissions, reproductions, live painting, and licenses, and more.
Daybreak Artist A.M. Hassan being paid to live paint “en plein air” at Mill Ridge Park’s 2025 Pear Jam.
Each artist is able to decide how to use their earnings in ways that matter most to them, reflecting their personal circumstances, dreams, and priorities. For some, that income pays for essential needs like rent or housing, providing stability in lives that have often been marked by uncertainty. For others, it allows small, meaningful moments of normalcy—a meal at a restaurant, a concert ticket, or a chance to enjoy experiences that nourish the soul and remind them of joy and possibility.
At Daybreak Arts, earning income through art is about more than money—it’s about independence, dignity, and small moments that make life feel whole.
Through the Artist Collective Program, talent becomes income, and income becomes freedom, joy, and the chance to reclaim one’s life. Since 2014, we’ve:
Served more than 130 housing-insecure artists
Paid out over $100,000 to help them gain financial stability
Witnessed thousands of hours devoted to creating, learning, and growing in the studio
Hosted hundreds of exhibitions—receiving both national and international recognition at One Fest of Homeless Arts
Exhibited and shipped Daybreak artwork to all 50 states and abroad in the U.K.
By providing a path to financial self-determination, the Artist Collective program empowers participants not only to make a living from their talent, but also to care for themselves on their own terms.
Your support doesn’t just fund art—it gives someone a chance to reclaim their life, share their story, and be seen for their talent and potential.
Stories of Transformation
Zareef & A.M. Hassan
A.M. Hassan exhibited her artwork in Nashville back in the 1970s at venues like the Parthenon and the Italian Street Festival, but decades of work and family responsibilities kept her from painting.
While living in California, she used her associates degree in architectural engineering to get a job at an aerospace company maintaining building plans. While transitioning into that new job, A.M. Hassan and her husband, Zareef, faced severe housing insecurity, even living out of a rented car and sleeping at cheap campgrounds to have access to showers. Yet when her supervisor discovered she was homeless, she was fired—showing how stigma, not ability, often defines opportunity.
After joining Daybreak Arts in 2016, A.M. Hassan has been able to pick up her paintbrush again, access studio space, and exhibit her work across the country. Today, she is creating again—building confidence, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose. Her journey demonstrates how our Artist Collective provides more than financial support—it offers recognition, encouragement, and the chance to fully reengage with one’s creative life.
Daniel Holmes
Daniel Holmes joined the Daybreak Artist Collective in 2019, bringing boundless creativity and drive. He was homeless for 3 years before moving into housing in 2019. Since then, his artwork has been showcased at the Frist Art Museum, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, and The Belcourt Theatre, and his best-selling greeting card, Cherry Blossom, has captured hearts across the community.
In 2024, Daniel took his artistry to a new level, collaborating with a Belmont Honors class to co-create the song “Our Lives Are an Unwritten Song” at Ocean Way Studios. He contributed lyrics, performed lead vocals, and the song is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Music—a testament to his ability to blend music and storytelling.
Beyond his own creative pursuits, Daniel has become a leader and advocate. He co-founded the Nashville Homeless Resilience Choir and Morning Coffee Artist, a collective that sells art to raise funds for the homeless community. Through music, visual art, and leadership, Daniel uses his talent to empower others, inspire change, and build connection—showing how creativity can transform not only a life, but an entire community.
Edwin Lockridge
Edwin Lockridge is an artist in his late 60s, whose lifelong dream of creating and sharing his art became a reality after joining Daybreak Arts in 2019. Despite decades of barriers, Edwin’s determination and creativity never wavered. In 2021, Edwin achieved a historic milestone: he exhibited at the Woolworth Gallery on 5th Avenue—a place that had once been inaccessible to his family during segregation. This moment, featured in WPLN News, was not just an exhibition; it was a powerful affirmation of his perseverance, talent, and place in the artistic community. In 2024, Edwin’s innovative mixed-media art—made from discarded car parts and other found materials—was showcased at the Lane Motor Museum. Beyond the recognition and sales, these opportunities have given Edwin confidence, visibility, community, and a renewed sense of possibility in his later years.
Thank you A Positive Impact for creating this short film featuring our Founder, Nicole, and Daybreak Artists, A.M. HASSAN, BANDY, Beth Gunn, and Thaddaeus Tekell.
July 2024-June 2025
Annual Report
