Kids Share Workshops

Connecting Kids Worldwide through Writing, Art & Photography

US & International Instructors

We are a group of volunteers that are dedicated to bringing arts education to children here in Vermont and throughout the Americas! Please contact us if you are interested in being part of our team at: KidsShareWorkshops@gmail.com 

Program Instructors

PAM SHEA (Volunteer and US Instructor)

Pam has a bachelor's degree in quantitative analysis and professionally, over 15 years of actuarial and underwriting experience. Outside of Kids Share Workshops, Pam works as the underwriting director for a local non-profit. Pam believes in the healing power of positive thought, music, and other forms of art. She is passionate about helping children find and use their voice. This can be hard for some children, especially those who were raised in a neglectful, abusive, or otherwise dysfunctional home environment. She has found that the arts have a powerful way of bringing children out of their shells and helping them realize their value and connection with the human family. Pam lives in central Vermont with her children. Pam is enthusiastic about Kids Share Workshops potential to empower children, spread joy, and provide a positive growth experience for the children and adults involved with their work. *Pam is one of KSW original co-founders. She has devouted three years volunteering with KSW.

JEANNE ROSS ATCHINSON (Co-Founder, Program Assistant, US and International Instructor)

Jeanne worked for the State of Vermont as its only Agency of Human Services Webwriter for 10 years and then for the Agency of Natural Resources. She loves to travel, and has explored Germany, as well as spending some time in England, Holland and France. Recently, she and her teenage daughter traveled within Thailand to spend 5 weeks fully immersed in Thai and village life. Their homestay visit allowed them to witness the needs, as well as the amazing strengths, of folk that honor the simple life. She stayed in Thailand for a winter teaching English to Thai children, assisting Ubon University students with their studies, and helping older teens and adults to earn their high school degrees through the Thai non-formal educational process. "I am so very pleased to be a member of the Kids Share team! What Kristina has done here has such potential for making serious beneficial changes in SO very many lives. I just could not believe that, in this time in my life when I want to "give" of myself, Kids Share Workshops has provided an exciting opportunity for me to do just that." Jeanne is a self employed web writer and consultant, and she teaches at the River Rock School in Montpelier. She is a member of the Vermont Beekeeper's Association. *Jeanne is one of KSW original co-founders. She has devouted many hours volunteering with KSW. (Pictured: 3/2009 Jeanne teaching Thai children.) 

KRISTINA APPLEGATE LUTES (Founder, Program Director, US and International Instructor) 

Kristina spent most of her childhood fantasizing that she would become a female version of Indiana Jones. Countless hours were spent exploring the woods behind her home and imagining she was getting lost on some exotic island. Before the founding of Kids Share Workshops; Kristina was an adventure camp counselor, and computer and art instructor to troubled teens. She began her professional journey as an artist and designer with Scholastic Publishing in NYC. Later she moved to Colorado with her husband where they created an ABC endangered and threatened animal greeting card company. Their ABC collection was sold in zoos and major chain stores throughout the US. Many more years of freelancing as an artist and designer followed. In 2007 Kristina woke up one sunny day on her hillside farm in Vermont and decided to create an organization that would connect children worldwide through a book making workshop. The journey of development has not always been easy but with the help of many dedicated volunteers Kristina is thankful for its current success and positive impact it has had on many children and communities. Kristina has been working hard for the past two years to find the right organization to partner with. She is thrilled about Kids Share Workshops becoming a new program for the nationally known organization, Partners of the Americas and the Vermont Chapter! Wish us success as we explore all of Latin America through the creative minds of kids!

Temporary Program Instructors 

SANDRA ERICKSON (Artist & Poet) We were thrilled to have a Artist in Residence for our 09-10 Nicaraguan & Vermont Children's Workshop! Shortly before the holidays, the winter Sandra turned four, she was gifted a pair of scissors, a jar of paste, a box of crayons and pad of construction paper by her grandparents; and while the adults enjoyed a peaceful afternoon, the child experienced an epiphany. It has been cut and paste, ever since. Artist and poet, Sandra Erickson studied illustration at Paier College of Art, paper making with Connecticut watercolorist, Sylvia Smith, and Ceramic Arts at CCV. (Poetry just happens.) Her drawings, cast paper collage, fine prints and pottery have been exhibited in galleries throughout Vermont and in private and business collection worldwide. Ms. Erickson has made art with preschool and school aged children in Vermont and Connecticut for 40 years. She has been, and continues to be, the consulting editor for Montreal's Lester B Pearson High School's (Learning for a Cause Publications, Montreal, Quebec) annual poetry and short story anthology since 2005.

Please direct questions about Kids Share Workshops to: KidsShareWorkshops@gmail.com

********************* Retired Portraits for Charity & Kids Share Workshops Team Leaders.

Newton Baker and Roger Crowley volunteered during the first two years of PFC & KSW by giving countless hours, much moral support and valuable teaching skills. They are dearly missed. We owe much gratitude to both of them for our success!  

NEWTON BAKER (Retired PFC & KSW Team Leader: Writing Project Leader)

Newton is a retired elementary school teacher of 35 years and a Vermont National Writing Project Teacher Leader. His passions are writing, especially with kids, and ultra-running where he is the National 24 Hour Run age group champion the past 6 years with a personal best of 120 miles. A native Vermonter and graduate of Middlebury College, Newton lives in Montpelier with his wife Diane, son Silas 13, and daughter Devin 9. He has two older children, Jessica and Jeremy and 3 grand-children. Newton donated much of his time and good spirits instructing a writing project for the Superheroes: Muscular Dystrophy & Union Elementary students. In addition, Newton initiated Portraits for Charity's™ first workshops at Union Elementary, with Ash Brittenham, and at Thatcher Brook Primary School. Later, Portraits for Charity became Kids Share Workshops. Many thanks Newton!!! 

ROGER CROWLEY  (Retired PFC & KSW Photojournalist)

Roger is a retired educator with 36 years of teaching in the public schools. He is from a large Maine family and made the big move west (Vermont) to get away from the snow and cold in 1972. He is currently a freelance photojournalist whose work can be seen in various Vermont newspapers. He specializes in sports and nature photography and is the official photographer for the Vermont Mountaineers baseball and Vermont Frost Heaves ABA basketball teams. Roger lives in Montpelier with his wife Louise. He has two children, Dan and Barb, and six grandchildren. Roger donated much of his time and good spirits photographing the Superheroes: Muscular Dystrophy & Union Elementary project and our Kids Share: Tibetan and Vermont Children's Narrative Workshops. Many thanks Roger!!!  

Kids Share Workshops celebrates all children of any race, gender, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, and does not discriminate. We believe all children are a gift and a reason to celebrate! 

*Original Co-Founders; Pam Shea, Jeanne R. Atchinson, Newton Baker, Roger Crowley and Kristina A. Lutes