Episode 33: Jackie Stouffer
Jackie Stouffer is the founder and Executive Director of Creative Dreams Outreach Center. Creative Dreams is a non-profit youth development program for middle and high school students. They offer free art, dance and music lessons as well as academic tutoring. Creative Dreams is truly a special place. I had the amazing opportunity to work there for multiple years during the summer and also after college, year-round.
In our conversation today, Jackie and I talk about the story of Creative Dreams. She shares how God planted the dream in her heart during her time raising her children and also working with an organization called Maria’s Children in Moscow, Russia. You will hear about how God gave her the vision for Creative Dreams and helped intervene and remove obstacles that felt like they were popping up as she was getting started.
We talk about how much Creative Dreams has evolved over the years and stories of God’s hand at work. She also talks about the process of building their own building for Creative Dreams to be housed. That was a huge journey of faith! Jackie has had a profound impact on so many lives; both the students and the volunteers or employees that have worked at Creative Dreams. I hope that you are inspired by her story to take that next step in pursuing the dream that God has placed in your heart.
This week actually marks the 16th anniversary of Creative Dreams! I’m so excited that you are joining us today as we celebrate what God’s done through this ministry.
You can listen to the show HERE, and you can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app (ie. iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher). We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!
About Jackie:
Jackie Stouffer has been married to the love of her life, Tim, for 41 years. They were blessed with twins in their first year of marriage. They have two adult “children”, Angie and Daniel. Jackie loves being a Grandmother to Kaden – 13, Sean – 11, Lucas – 9 and Edine – 7.
In Jackie’s words, she is “one of those weird people who dabbles in the arts and loves sports.” She has played tennis for 46 years after taking a class in college. She has been blessed to live and travel to every continent except Antarctica.
Jackie is the founder and Executive Director of Creative Dreams Outreach Center. Creative Dreams is a non-profit youth development program for middle and high school students. They offer free art, dance and music lessons as well as academic tutoring.
Jackie’s mom was a dancer and was determined to have a daughter who danced, so Jackie began dancing at the age of three. Because of their life circumstances, her mom was her main teacher and at times she was able to take formal classes. She continued taking dance classes through college and a few years after and then because of moves, transitioned to teaching aerobics. Jackie taught aerobics for over 25 years, and still teaches a fitness class called REFIT, which is a combination dance/fitness format.
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Connect with Jackie:
jackies@creativedoc.org