Jill Gurr, Founder/CEO of CREATE NOW, NP for the arts to underserved kids

Jill is originally from East Meadow, NY. She has traveled and lived all over the world and is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian. ?She is the CEO of the nonprofit organization Create Now, which she founded in 1996. Jill has devoted the last 23 years of her life helping more than 45,000 at-risk and high-risk youth in Los Angeles to heal and thrive through therapeutic programs in the arts. 

We provide training and materials to implement therapeutic programs in eight main areas: Visual Arts, Music, Literary Arts, Digital Media, Performing Arts, Fashion Design, Culinary Arts and Cultural Journeys where each year, we bring thousands of these "forgotten children" who have fallen through the cracks to concerts, plays, museums and other cultural events at premiere venues in the region.

?Create Now especially serves children ages 2-21 who have been abused, neglected, homeless, domestic violence victims, incarcerated, etc. by matching them with artists, writers, musicians, actors, dancers and others, including mentors who teach life skills. We collaborate with 166 partner agencies, like shelters, detention facilities, mental health clinics, schools and group homes to implement our programs with the neediest kids who have fallen through the cracks.

She has received numerous awards and media attention. Jill was one of 25 world leaders invited to participate in a Global xChange in South Africa and Belfast through the British Council. She currently gives presentations to international diplomats through the International Visitors Council and the U.S. State Department. She has published three books, including one about mentoring youth.