Our History

Based in Dallas, TX, Art Reaching Out (ARO) was granted 501(c)(3) recognition in 2017 to expose students to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) through the magical art of glass blowing. ARO serves students in grades 6-12; donations support scholarships for underserved populations, especially girls. Students participate in hands-on STEAM experiences during school hours, after school, during school holidays, and in the summer.

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Glass artist Carlyn Ray piloted the idea of engaging middle and high school students in making glass art installations from 2013-2016 with public and private school students and nonprofit organizations including: Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas, Big Thought with Francisco Medrano Middle School (Dallas ISD), The Episcopal School of Dallas, The Hockaday School, and The Links, Inc. with Irving ISD.

Board members with specialties in engineering, education, law, marketing, and finance developed the immersive STEAM curriculum and continued to help the organization grow and thrive. Students have fun while practicing physics, chemistry, material science, engineering, business math, marketing, and gratitude.

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ARO's first "official" project as a 501(c)(3) organization was a three-day workshop in June 2017 for rising 7th grade girls at Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School (Dallas ISD) in partnership with the Young Women's Preparatory Network. Hands-on chemistry, electricity and circuitry, light spectra, thermodynamics, glass blowing, glass fusing, welding, and business math lessons complemented their glass experience. In the hot shop, girls created a periodic table featuring handmade glass bubbles colored by corresponding element-rich powders. This periodic table proudly hangs the in lobby of the girls' school.

ARO pivoted during COVID-19, redesigning programming to reach students virtually. The Dallas ISD Department of Career and Technical Education, for example, hosted a virtual event reaching 300 science students and teachers while the pandemic affected in-person instruction. 

ARO programming is most impactful delivered in-person. ARO continues to refine and reimagine STEAM experiences to accommodate ever-changing challenges related to student availability. Our most popular program today is a 2 ½ hour “STEAM workshop fieldtrip.” Students witness a STEAM-focused hotglass demonstration and then make a small blown glass piece to keep with the assistance of professional instructors.

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