The Stay Lifted Project is a community initiative designed to foster connections through art. Founder, Charissa Ware, is a multi-hyphenate, award-winning Illustrator and Creative with a vast portfolio in illustration, content creation and product design + development. The self-taught artist is an ecommerce and digital strategy professional based in Los Angeles that has collaborated with leading brands, organizations and celebrities in producing original artwork and in executing their creative visions. After working with a 5th grade class to design and execute an art project focused on empathy, Charissa saw firsthand how art could break down barriers and inspire understanding and connection resulting in the creation of the Stay Lifted Project. Charissa's intention is to create bodies of work that embrace self love, humanity, and connectedness and she enthusiastically lends her talents to students and local art initiatives.