Our Story
Building bridges through art, one brushstroke at a time
Our Mission
At ArtUnity Youth, we believe in the transformative power of art to break down barriers and build understanding across diverse communities.
Our mission is to nurture young minds through art, fostering creativity, celebrating diversity, and promoting inclusivity while organizing enriching art-based events for children.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) youth charity organization, we rely on community support to sustain and expand our programs for the young people we serve.
Through our programs, we aim to bridge gaps between different racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, creating a more connected and empathetic community.
Meet Our Team
Dedicated professionals passionate about art, education, and community building.
Leadership & Team
Jonathan Shan
Jonathan is the Founder and President of ArtUnity Youth and a student at Poolesville High School. As the organization’s Executive Lead, he sets the vision and yearly goals for ArtUnity’s impact, leads team planning and decision‑making, and ensures programs meet high standards for quality, safety, and inclusion. He also drives fundraising and partnerships with schools, sponsors, and community organizations to expand youth‑led, hands‑on, healing‑centered art experiences. Outside of ArtUnity, Jonathan is an award‑winning artist and an app designer who has competed and placed in multiple national‑level app competitions.
Saranzul (Sara) Boskov
Saranzul (Sara) Boskov is Vice President of ArtUnity Youth and a student at Richard Montgomery High School. As the Programs & Operations Lead, she designs and teaches workshops, plans materials and lesson flow, and manages event logistics from registration and staffing to day‑of coordination. She also supports volunteer onboarding and multilingual outreach to ensure every program is welcoming, accessible, and youth‑centered. Sara loves helping students build confidence through art and creativity.
Daveon Williams
Daveon Williams is Vice President of ArtUnity Youth and a student at Richard Montgomery High School. As the Community & Engagement Lead, he helps grow participation and builds a welcoming event environment through outreach, mentorship, and hands‑on creative activities. He’s passionate about creating safe spaces where youth feel supported, challenged, and inspired to lead. Daveon is also a dedicated boxer who values discipline and resilience.
Mingdi Chen
Mingdi Chen is a Junior Team Lead at ArtUnity Youth and a student at Cabin John Middle School. As the Junior Outreach & Youth Ambassador Lead, he helps connect ArtUnity with younger students by spreading the word about workshops, supporting youth‑focused outreach, and helping create creative promotional materials. Mingdi is also an award‑winning young artist and loves inspiring other students to grow through art.
Advisors
Jierui Fang
Ms. Fang is a multidisciplinary designer who focuses on living systems across human and environmental scales. She is an MIT graduate in art and design with minors in computer science and biomedical engineering, and a Stanford Product Design graduate. As an Advisor to ArtUnity Youth, she brings an impact-focused lens to our work, supporting program design, outcomes measurement, and community partnerships so our initiatives stay grounded, effective, and sustainable.
Laura Leigh Palmer
Ms. Palmer is a graphic and web designer and an adjunct professor at Montgomery College. As ArtUnity Youth’s Curatorial Advisor and arts educator, she helps shape our visual identity and guides exhibitions and showcases that elevate youth storytelling and amplify young artists’ voices. She also provides art direction and exhibition guidance for our year-round mural painting project, helping students strengthen concept, composition, and presentation from start to finish.
Xiaojin Bao
Ms. Bao is a UCLA graduate and an experienced concept artist, graphic designer, and animator in the entertainment industry, including interactive games and film. With over 20 years of teaching experience and an extensive fine arts background, she supports ArtUnity Youth as an arts educator and advisor, helping students strengthen their skills, creative confidence, and visual storytelling.
Join Our Mission
Help us create a more inclusive and creative community for our youth.