Just as Art and Activism are intrinsically tied together, Mary-Mitchell has always felt the inexorable pull toward the activist space. The philanthropic works of Paul Newman, A.E Hotchner, and Cy Coleman, among others, were vital to introducing Mary-Mitchell to the idea of using the arts to help others and affect change.
After first becoming involved with the charitable foundations of others, Mary-Mitchell went on to found her own Non-Profit, ArtsIgnite, and remains deeply involved in the philanthropic world.
(formerly ASTEP)
In 2006 Mary-Mitchell founded ArtsIgnite, originally named Artists Striving To End Poverty (ASTEP), with the belief that every young person has a unique voice when given the tools to access it and the opportunity to share it. In the 15+ years since its inception, ArtsIgnite has become a force in the realm of Arts Education reaching over 21,000 students across 3 continents. ArtsIgnite asks how the arts and artistic expression can help children better understand themselves and interact with their communities. In February 2022, Mary-Mitchell transitioned out of the role of Executive Director, where she remains very active in the operations and endeavors as President of ArtsIgnite.
“DEVELOPING AGENCY IN YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THE ARTS– We enable young people to discover the joy and power of making art—to find their voices, tell their stories, and transform their lives. We believe that the arts are a powerful force for sparking imagination, cultivating a sense of self, and breaking cycles of poverty. Arts education can create a ripple effect of hope and positive change within ourselves, our communities, and society.”
Mary-Mitchell serves on the Advisory Board of Maestra and is an active member of the community since its inception in 2017. Mary-Mitchell strongly believes that we should be holding the door open for those that come after to ensure they have an easier time than the generation before them. She utilizes her decades of professional experience to mentor and uplift Maestra members and regularly utilizes the Maestra directory to find new female and non-binary musicians for her projects. Mary-Mitchell has experienced firsthand the impacts of working in a male-dominated field. Maestra's community shows that there is far more than just men who are ready and able to do this work, and each step towards accessibility only leads us closer to true accountability and equality.
“MAESTRA MUSIC INC. provides support, visibility, and community to the women and nonbinary people who make the music in the musical theater industry. Our membership is made up of composers, music directors, orchestrators, arrangers, copyists, rehearsal pianists, and other musicians. The organization’s initiatives include monthly educational seminars, mentorship programs, technical skills workshops, networking events, and online resources and partnerships that aim to promote equality of opportunity and address the many historical disadvantages and practices that have limited women and nonbinary composers and musicians in the musical theater.”
Mary-Mitchell is one of the founding members of Musicians United for Social Equity, which is fiscally sponsored by ArtsIngite. While ArtsIgnite focuses on childhood access to arts education as a tool for growth, MUSE works toward creating a more equitable workforce for musicians of color. MUSE aims to develop a clear pipeline for musicians of color to gain access to spaces that can have substantial barriers. Founded in October 2020, MUSE offers an ever-growing directory of musicians of color throughout the United States, as well as job postings to help connect members with the work. Mary-Mitchell firmly believes if those in positions of power have direct access to musicians of color, the theatre community is left with no excuse for a lack of diversity.
“MUSE’s mission is to cultivate more racial equity in theatrical music departments by providing access, internships, mentorships, and support to historically marginalized people of color. MUSE aims to challenge systemic acts of exclusion and support musicians as we transition to a more diverse and inclusive environment for all.”
Mary-Mitchell also works with the following organizations regularly
