Joseph Peha
Terry has been a friend and mentor to me most of my adult life. When I was in high school, he led an art nonprofit, The AIGA Link Program. It was transformative for me, to say the least. Terry’s incredibly warm leadership, inclusivity and kindness set the tone for the program. Terry – and Link – helped make me into the person I am today. Each month during the school year, Terry organized a workshop with a different professional artist who shared their craft. Together, they helped guide me and other students as we created portfolio pieces in the various mediums of guest artists. By example, Terry helped break me out of my shell. He showed me how to be more comfortable in my own skin, and make some great artwork along the way. But it wasn’t just me. I’ve seen this pattern over and over again.
After I graduated college, I moved back to Seattle and joined Link on the other side of the fence as a volunteer. That was 10 years ago. And getting to work alongside with Terry, peer-to-peer, was just as powerful as when he was a teacher. I got to see firsthand how he builds and sustains community. I’ve never met anyone like him – someone who is not only incredibly talented as an artist, but also has an off-the-chart emotional intelligence. And he uses his gifts to meet people where they’re at, bring disparate people together and shines a light on the goodness & power that people have within themselves – even when they don’t see it themselves.
As a fellow volunteer with Terry, I got to witness the fundamental impact he’s had on students’ lives. We ask seniors to write essays at the end of each year, reflecting on their time in the program. Terry is called out, again and again, for the positive difference he’s made. Students have even thanked Terry and the program for helping save their lives. He’s that kind of person.
He brings out the best aspects of a community, if he’s not building one outright. And he’s one of the most talented artists I’ve ever known.
Joseph Peha
Online & Visual Media Strategist, Seattle City Council
Founder, readysetvote.org
