When you first enter Hearts Unknown Education’s space, the first thing you notice isn’t the art. It’s the kids.
They’re painting, singing, laughing, building, talking, eating, creating and connecting. A teenager experiments with a guitar riff on stage while another carefully adds color to a canvas. Across the room, a small group gathers around a table with markers and sketches. There are no cliques, no competitions and remarkably few cell phones. Instead, there is sharing, conversation, creativity and a sense of belonging that can be felt the moment you walk through the doors.
For hundreds of Central Oregon youth and families, Hearts Unknown Education – better known as HUE – has become far more than an after-school arts program. It is a safe place to land, a place to be seen and a place where young people are free to discover who they are through creativity, community and unconditional support. There is no judgement here.
Founded in 2022 by artist and Executive Director Nicola Carpenelli, along with Dr. Howard Asher, this 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization has grown from a handful of kids gathered in a small rented space to a thriving creativity hub serving more than 500 youth in a colorful 10,000 square foot building on Franklin Ave.
Yet, despite its growth, HUE remains focused on the youth they serve, and on the heart-mind connection. “Our philosophy is to approach the mind through the heart,” notes Carpinelli. “We know there is a strong neurological connection between emotions and well-being.”
For Dr. Maya Heck, a psychiatrist with St. Charles Health System and HUE’s board president and mental health director, this connection is key, and HUE’s approach really works.
“There are more neurons in the heart than people think. Normally people think neurons are just in the brain, but essentially there’s a highway for neurons, a connection between the brain and the heart,” explains Dr. Heck. “HUE creates a safe space for kids to be themselves, we access them through their heart, and that positively impacts their brain.”
“We love these kids. We accept these kids. We offer them unconditional encouragement and support,” remarks Carpinelli. “That’s the number one thing we do at HUE. Through our heart work, we create and hold space for healing.”
According to Carpinelli, everything the organization does comes down to three principles: freedom of expression, unconditional positive regard and community. “We love and encourage these children,” he says. “That’s the number one thing we do.”
That philosophy is woven into every corner of the organization.
Unlike many after-school programs, HUE does not require children to follow a prescribed curriculum or move from activity to activity on a schedule. Kids are free to explore painting, drawing, music, photography, creative writing, knitting and other artistic pursuits at their own pace. Some arrive eager to create. Others simply need a quiet place to sit, observe and decompress after a difficult day.
There is no pressure to perform. No grades. No expectation of perfection. Just an open invitation to create and explore.
One of Carpinelli’s favorite workshops is called “Find the Beauty in the Mess.” Participants are encouraged to make the ugliest painting they can imagine. The exercise quickly dissolves fear and self-judgement, allowing kids to embrace mistakes and discover unexpected beauty in the process.
“The message is that life is messy,” Carpinelli explains. “Now let’s find the beauty in it.”
That message resonates deeply with many of the young people who walk through HUE’s doors.
Some arrive struggling with anxiety, depression, isolation or difficult circumstances at home. Others simply feel out of place. What they find at HUE is something many young people desperately need – trusted adults who listen, encourage and keep showing up. HUE has several adult volunteers who have been with Carpinelli since the beginning.
According to Dr. Heck, this consistency can be life-changing for youth. “A lot of these kids who have experienced trauma or abuse just need one adult who can be someone for them,” she says. “They can connect with “Nico.” They can connect with one of the volunteers. They can connect with someone who makes them feel supported and accepted.”
That sense of acceptance may be one of HUE’s greatest strengths.
Carpinelli recalls a teenager who spent months sitting quietly by herself, avoiding interaction with other students. One day he overheard her singing. Encouraged hearing this, he invited her to perform with a group of musicians at HUE.
The transformation was immediate.
Within moments, she had found her voice – and a community where she felt safe and supported.
“It was like watching a flower bloom,” recalls Carpinelli.
He and Dr. Heck have witnessed similar breakthroughs countless times over the years.
One young man arrived withdrawn, angry and struggling to connect with others. Through painting, he found a healthy outlet for emotions he couldn’t yet express in words. Over time, his confidence grew. He began smiling, engaging with other kids and building friendships.
For many children, art becomes a bridge to something bigger.
“It helps them express things they cannot verbalize,” says Dr. Heck. “A lot of kids have a difficult time identifying or explaining emotions. Art gives them a way to get those feelings out.”
According to Tara, a parent of a HUE student, “HUE saves lives. HUE saves the lives of the wallflower children who are desperately trying to navigate this world . . . You create space for belonging, creation, and most importantly, for healing – the type of healing that you don’t really know is taking place.”
Research increasingly supports what HUE volunteers and families witness every day: creative expression can reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, build confidence and strengthen social connections. At HUE, those benefits happen naturally.
In a time when loneliness and social isolation among young people continues to rise, HUE has become what many describe as vital “third space” – a place outside of home and school where kids can gather, build relationships and simply be themselves.
That sense of community extends beyond the students.
More than 20 volunteers help support HUE’s programs, many returning week after week to mentor and encourage participants. Local businesses partner with HUE to donate food, art supplies and financial support. Community partners continue to help the organization expand its reach and impact.
Today, HUE is also exploring ways to deepen its mental health support services in hopes of bringing more mental health professionals on-site throughout the week. For Dr. Heck, exploring these options represents an important shift in how communities think about mental health.
“You’re really moving the needle for a kid’s mental health in a place like this,” she states. “This is where the real prevention happens.”
“In the near future, I see HUE as a recognized pillar of preventative youth mental health in Central Oregon. In addition to a studio space, a trusted community hub where art, music, and emotional support intersect before crisis occurs,” emphasizes Dr. Heck. “I believe HUE is integral — not as a replacement for therapy, but as a buffer and safety net. As a psychiatrist, I deeply believe in treatment including medication and formal psychotherapy. But I equally believe in prevention and HUE is prevention in action.”
But for now, the focus remains where it has always been – the kids.
Every afternoon, another wave of young people walks through HUE’s doors carrying the challenges of adolescence, family struggles, academic pressures and an increasingly complicated world.
Inside, they find paint brushes, instruments, cameras, snacks – and much more basic and essential – unconditional love and support. When they walk into this space, they find trusted adults, mentors, who see them, encourage them and keep showing up. More importantly, they find a place where they belong.
And, sometimes, that can make all the difference.
“What gives me the most hope right now is the kids,” remarks Dr. Heck. “Despite the pressure they’re under, they are thoughtful, emotionally aware, and craving real connection. When given the space to be authentic, they rise to it.”
ILoveHUE.org
HUE at a Glance
- Location: 184 NE Franklin Ave., Bend
- Drop-In Hours: Monday–Thursday, 4–7 p.m.
- Quiet Heart Mondays: Smaller-group programming designed for youth seeking a quieter, more relaxed environment.
- Coming in August: HUE is partnering with NAMI Central Oregon for HUENAMI, a community event focused on youth mental health awareness and support.
- Annual Fundraiser: Art from the Heart, an annual silent auction fundraiser in November featuring artwork created by HUE students. Proceeds support HUE's free youth programming.