Connection. Creativity. Impact.

herARTS in Action is a creative, community-centered organization working at the intersection of storytelling, education, environmental engagement, art, and cross-sector collaboration. Through books, workshops, public art, partnerships, speaking, and global initiatives, we create projects and experiences that strengthen connection, expand access, foster belonging, and support meaningful community impact locally and globally.

Rooted in the belief that connection is the foundation, creativity is the tool, and impact is the result, our work bridges communities, cultures, systems, and stories through relationship-centered engagement and collaborative action.


Our Story
herARTS in Action was founded through a growing intersection of art, education, volunteerism, environmental engagement, and community collaboration. What began as creative and humanitarian work connected to clean water, sanitation, literacy, and education initiatives in Burkina Faso evolved into a broader mission-centered ecosystem that bridges storytelling, environmental awareness, creativity, and systems-centered engagement.

Over time, the organization expanded beyond traditional arts programming to include environmental literacy initiatives, public art projects, community partnerships, author visits, facilitation, and collaborative work across education, nonprofit, civic, and international spaces. Whether through a children’s book about stormwater systems, a community mural project, an educational residency, or strategic facilitation around trust and alignment, the goal remains the same: creating experiences and partnerships that strengthen understanding, access, and human connection.


Mission & Vision
herARTS in Action is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011, awarded nonprofit status in 2014, and recognized with NGO status in Burkina Faso in 2018.

The mission of herARTS in Action is to create an equitable world through increased access and social justice with art. We achieve this by producing art, facilitating art experiences, and selling artwork that educates on global topics, creates social change, and funds sustainability projects globally and locally.

The vision is that herARTS in Action contributes to,
1) sustainable socioeconomic status, including education, employment, and health, for women and girls based on the stated need and desires of the people and in a manner respectful of the culture,
2) educational success for children by providing supplies needed in and outside the classroom, and
3) nontraditional access to visual art for those most marginalized to attain art skills and experiences.


Based in Minnesota, Operating Globally
herARTS in Action is a Minnesota-based nonprofit and registered NGO in Burkina Faso supporting initiatives connected to environmental education, clean water, sanitation, literacy, arts engagement, entrepreneurship, and community-centered collaboration across the United States and West Africa.

From watershed education and public art projects to educational sponsorships and clean water partnerships, our work connects creativity, systems awareness, and human-centered engagement to support meaningful and sustainable impact.

Founder Story
herARTS in Action was founded by artist, author, educator, and community collaborator Sarah Drake. Her interdisciplinary work sits at the intersection of systems, stories, and people—connecting creativity with education, environmental engagement, cultural exchange, and community-centered impact.

Sarah’s award-winning work has included community art initiatives, environmental education programming, international volunteerism, literacy and clean water advocacy, teaching artist residencies, public speaking, and cross-sector collaboration with schools, nonprofits, community organizations, universities, and diplomatic and international partners. Her projects often bridge creative expression with systems thinking, helping individuals and communities better understand how connection, trust, and collaboration influence real-world outcomes.

As an author, Sarah has created books rooted in environmental literacy and global storytelling, including Only Rain Down the Drain and the Nanou’s Promise series, inspired by volunteer work in Burkina Faso. Her work is grounded in the belief that storytelling and creativity can create empathy, strengthen community engagement, and make complex systems more accessible and human-centered. Sarah’s work also includes curatorial publishing, oral history storytelling, memoir collaboration, and creative documentation projects that preserve cultural memory, community narratives, and lived experience through art and storytelling.

As a visual artist, Sarah’s work explores the intersections of identity, culture, environment, storytelling, and human connection through mixed media, collage, public art, and community-centered creative engagement. Her artwork and collaborative projects have been featured through exhibitions, artist residencies, educational initiatives, environmental art programming, and public engagement projects that use creativity as a tool for dialogue, reflection, learning, and connection across communities and experiences.

This work also informs the philosophy behind You’re Just So Different, an evolving storytelling and belonging-centered initiative exploring identity, communication, cultural connection, empathy, and the role creativity and storytelling play in helping people feel seen, understood, and connected across communities, cultures, and systems.


Areas of Impact
Creative Engagement & Storytelling
herARTS in Action uses art, storytelling, creative engagement, and interdisciplinary learning experiences to strengthen communication, confidence, empathy, and community connection. Through artist residencies, workshops, public art, exhibitions, environmental storytelling, and collaborative programming, creativity becomes a tool for education, dialogue, systems awareness, and human connection across diverse audiences and communities.
  • Teaching artist residencies and workshops across schools and community organizations
  • Community mural and environmental art initiatives
  • CMAB/McKnight Foundation Individual Artist Award recipient
  • VSA Minnesota/Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist with Disabilities Award
  • Published author and interdisciplinary storyteller
  • Collaborative exhibitions and public engagement projects

Environmental Stewardship & Systems Awareness
Environmental education initiatives help communities better understand the relationship between water, public systems, environmental stewardship, and everyday actions. Through watershed education, stormdrain mural projects, environmental storytelling, workshops, and public engagement, herARTS in Action creates accessible and community-centered approaches to environmental literacy and systems awareness.
  • Stormdrain mural and watershed education initiatives
  • Only Rain Down the Drain environmental literacy programming
  • Community environmental engagement projects
  • Environmental art and public education collaborations
  • Water and sanitation partnerships in Burkina Faso
  • Community-centered stewardship and systems education

Access, Education & Community Development
herARTS in Action supports collaborative initiatives that expand access to education, clean water, sanitation, creative engagement, literacy, mentorship, and opportunity through relationship-centered local and global partnerships. Programs prioritize culturally grounded collaboration, long-term relationship-building, and community-centered approaches that strengthen dignity, participation, and sustainable impact.
  • Sponsored educational access for girls in Burkina Faso since 2018
  • Supported educational initiatives in Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Central Minnesota
  • Partnered on clean water, sanitation, and solar well initiatives serving thousands of community members
  • Supported library development and literacy initiatives
  • Mentorship and arts engagement opportunities for underserved students
  • Entrepreneurship and educational support initiatives for women and youth

Facilitation, Partnership & Trust Alignment
herARTS in Action supports relationship-centered collaboration through facilitation, systems thinking, communication strategy, and community-centered engagement. This work focuses on helping organizations, initiatives, and partnerships strengthen trust, align resources, improve stakeholder engagement, and create pathways for sustainable and meaningful impact across sectors and communities.
  • Cross-sector collaboration initiatives
  • Community-centered facilitation and educational engagement
  • International NGO and nonprofit partnerships
  • Systems-centered environmental and educational initiatives
  • Collaborative programming across arts, education, and community development
  • Strategic engagement through storytelling, creativity, and dialogue

Belonging, Identity & Human Connection
At the heart of herARTS in Action is the belief that storytelling, creativity, empathy, and authentic human connection help people feel seen, valued, and connected across cultures, communities, identities, and systems. This philosophy informs initiatives including You’re Just So Different, which explores belonging, communication, cultural exchange, dialogue, and the role creative engagement plays in building understanding and connection across difference.
  • Development of the You’re Just So Different initiative
  • Cross-cultural storytelling and dialogue work
  • Arts and storytelling experiences focused on empathy and connection
  • Community engagement across diverse communities and cultures
  • Relationship-centered collaboration and facilitation
  • Programming exploring identity, creativity, communication, and belonging​

Recognition, Grants & Support
The work of herARTS in Action and founder Sarah Drake has been supported through grants, artist awards, teaching artist development, and community arts funding dedicated to creativity, education, accessibility, and community engagement.

Required recognition includes:
  • 2021, Creative Support for Individuals, Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of MN through a grant from the MN State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
  • 2021, awarded the CMAB/McKnight Foundation Individual Artist award. This award is made possible through a grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board, thanks to funds provided by The McKnight Foundation.
  • 2017, awarded the VSA Minnesota/Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist with disabilities award.
  • 2015, awarded the CMAB/McKnight Foundation Emerging Artist award. This award is made possible through a grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board, thanks to funds provided by The McKnight Foundation.
  • Sarah's rostered teaching artist training was with the Central Minnesota Arts Board. This activity is made possible through a grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board, thanks to funds provided by the McKnight Foundation.


Board & Leadership
herARTS in Action is guided by a Board of Directors and collaborative leadership committed to creativity, education, environmental engagement, community partnership, and meaningful impact.
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Support Team
Sarah Drake
Founder of herARTS in Action, Artist in Action
Sarah is an artist, activist, and advocate, but foremost, she's a mother to a biracial child. As a practitioner of anti-racism and anti-colonial methodologies, she continually evaluates her privileges to be sure she is intentional and intersectional with her actions to contribute positively to a world that is equitable and accepting for her daughter and all. Sarah has exhibited her artwork internationally, earned multiple awards, and has a piece in the permanent collection at the Marina Tsvetaeva Museum and Cultural Center in Moscow. In addition to art, Sarah has worked for many years in the nonprofit sector on human rights, immigration, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, all of which was enhanced by an Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellowship earlier in her career. She has a Master’s of Science degree in Social Responsibility and an undergraduate degree in Ethnic Studies and Geography, both from St. Cloud State University. 
Sandrine Kaba
In-Country Coordinator
Sandrine is an entrepreneur originally from Tiébélé, Burkina Faso. During Sarah's first trip to Burkina Faso, Sandrine was recommended as an interpreter because she is from the village. Since that first meeting, Sandrine has dedicated herself to helping herARTS in Action achieve their goals. As the go-to person for the organization in Burkina Faso, Sandrine has built her leadership skills and been empowered by her own country. When asked why she is volunteering her time for the projects, Sandrine said if she can help even one person, then she needs to help.
Board Members
I am Namketa Edith Savadogo. I am originally from Burkina Faso and currently reside in New York. I have a background in communications and media with a focus in influential communication and PR. I work at Adwanted Group, an international Adtech company.
On the side, I'm a marketing communication consultant and promoter of NS consulting, an agency specialized in strategic positioning.
I have made it my mission to highlight the Burkinabe diaspora and to contribute as much as I can to the development of my country. I am particularly sensitive to the cause of marginalized people and vulnerable populations such as women and children in rural areas. I have previous NGO experience and I am honored to join herARTS in Action as a board member and contribute to its mission of creating an equitable world through increased access and social justice with art.​
My name is Flora Koné Ouédraogo. I  am from Burkina Faso, West Africa and I live in Brooklyn, NY. I am an Administrative Assistant for a business program in a non-profit organization in Brooklyn. I am the owner of 2 businesses: one in the U.S (specialized in African handmade accessories and clothing: www.fleurtrendy.com), and one in Burkina Faso (a store selling a variety of goods and articles form the U.S, as well as providing personal shopping services: Fleur Trendy).
I first heard about herARTS in Action at an event where Sarah was invited to explain the Why and How of the organization. The vision and actions of herARTS in Action resonate in me and I am grateful to be part of the adventure. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" (Nelson Mandela)
Sena is an advocate for literacy, STEM education, and female empowerment. She hails from the small West African city of Porto Novo in Benin and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Metro State University in St Paul, MN. Sena is passionate about giving back to her community and is committed to ensuring that all children have access to quality education. She is a member of La Havre d'Amour, a local non-profit organization focused on helping single mothers and providing free tutoring and mentorship to young female students. Sena works diligently to bridge the gender gap in STEM and to give girls the opportunity to explore and engage in the world of STEM. She is a strong advocate for education reform and works to ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to reach their highest potential. Her mission is to inspire a new generation of empowered young women who can lead and make a difference in their communities. In her spare time, Sena enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking.
Advisory Team
Wend Kouni Nintiema has a Master of Science in Social Responsibility from St Cloud State University with a focus on Gender Studies. Although passionate about social justice issues in general, she focuses on issues facing women and girls. Wend Kouni serves as the Chair of herARTS in Action and is a native of Burkina Faso. She is also a member of Associations Amies de Guyane, a non-profit organization striving to impact women's and girls' education in French Guiana. In the past, Wend Kouni was a board member of the African Women Alliance in MN and volunteered for Solidarité Femmes de Dijon in France, working with women victims of domestic violence.
Eric Sauret is a professional in the financial industry, mainly working within banking in model risk management, quantitative risk, model risk auditing, and an analyst. He completed a Master of Science in Applied Economics from Saint Cloud State University. When asked why he supports the organization, Eric replied, "herARTS in Action offers a unique opportunity to contribute and see the "added" value and the positive impact on women, mothers, and girls in Burkina Faso. Actions and contributions are actualized when a little girl gets a chance to go to school as the parents couldn't afford or when we build wells, and clean water is available. Those basic things which seem normal to many are a huge privilege to the people of Tiébélé."