She Enriches the Lives of Memphis Seniors Through the Arts!
As Executive Director of Creative Aging, Mia Henley found a career that allows her to make a lasting impact. Meet our newest FACE of Memphis!
Born and raised in Memphis, Mia Henley returned home after graduating from law school to enter into practice. She took a break from litigation for a few years to concentrate on raising three sons, then joined a securities litigation firm, an experience she recalls as “intense.” Taking a chance on something new, Mia embarked on a career in the nonprofit world. After seven years as a strategic planning and organizational development consultant for the nonprofit consultancy firm Consilience Group, she began the search for a position that would allow her to make a lasting impact. As an organization that works to enrich the lives of seniors through arts programming, Creative Aging checked all her boxes! Meet the Executive Director of Creative Aging and our new FACE of Memphis, Mia Henley.
How did your path lead you to Creative Aging?
It was serendipitous, really. I encountered Creative Aging around 2014 or 2015 when Consilience agreed to consult with Creative Aging, then a small, grass-roots organization. I managed their strategic planning process, which is how I came to know and appreciate their mission.
When I decided to start looking for a leadership position in a nonprofit, I learned that their founder was retiring, and I expressed interest. It was a little bit of a leap to hire me because my background was not as an executive director, and I had not worked directly for a nonprofit organization.
What attracted you most about it?
Whenever I see a situation that feels unjust or where people are not being treated appropriately, helping to change that situation appeals to me. American society is unique in the way we engage with older adults. Ageism is a term I probably had not heard when I started this job, but it is a term I very much understand today. We make so many assumptions about people based solely on their age. As our society continues to develop and medicine continues to advance, what it looks like to be an older adult today is radically different from what it was like even ten years ago. Thanks to technology, the ability of people of all ages to stay connected and engaged is greatly improved. These changes make it even more unjust and simply incorrect to believe that people cannot do things because of their age.
I love that Creative Aging is here as an asset and a community resource that promotes and encourages vital, healthy, dynamic aging.
How does Creative Aging do that?
Creative Aging has three programs: Community performances, the Concert Series, and Studio Courses.
In the first program, artists go into a community to perform. We work in 90 senior communities — nursing homes, adult day cares, senior residential communities, independent and semi-independent living — places of all kinds. We also offer programming to the community at large in all 18 branches of Memphis Public Library, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Brooks Museum of Art, Theatre Memphis, Tennessee Shakespeare, Collage Dance Collective — the list goes on and on. We have so many community partners that make our work possible.
Our Concert Series is a season of 10 events held throughout the year at Theatre Memphis. We leverage the work of arts organizations throughout the city. For example, we may have featured performances that are part of Playhouse on the Square or Theatre Memphis’ current season, a 17-piece brass band, and a play from Tennessee Shakespeare in one season.
Our Studio Courses are six to 12-hour courses offering life-long learning instruction in the arts. Classes meet weekly for an hour and a half to two hours for six to eight weeks, depending on the course. Participants learn new skills, meet new friends, and build confidence. We provide all the supplies, and the classes are 100% free. Studio Courses are held in libraries, museums, theatres, community centers, and senior centers.
Last year, Creative Aging presented over 950 Community Performances, ten Concert Series events, and about 600 hours of arts instruction. Everything we do is focused on bringing art and music to seniors in the places they live and gather.
And we haven’t even talked about the other side of the equation, which is the benefit our programming offers to the Memphis arts economy.
Who do you work and partner with?
Creative Aging paid over $320,000 to individual artists and arts organizations in 2022. We will spend more than that this year. All of our artists are paid; we never ask them to volunteer.
Creative Aging offers working, professional artists in all disciplines — musicians, visual artists, potters, poets, and more — opportunities to earn an income while pursuing their creative careers. Arts and music are a huge part of what makes Memphis unique and dynamic. We are proud to be able to support that quality in a way that also gives back to the community.
After every performance or workshop, artists provide comments and notes. Sometimes we’ll get a two-paragraph story about the impact the performance had on the performer. I’ve had musicians say, “This was the most emotional and connective performance I have ever had.” I’m amazed by how much artists love what they do for us. It is joyful for them.
What do you wish more people in the community knew about Creative Aging?
Our vision is to make music and hands-on arts experiences available to every older adult in Shelby County. I wish more people simply knew what a wonderful resource Creative Aging is for the community, what an enriching opportunity it is for older adults to participate and say connected, and what an incredible opportunity it is for artists to perform or teach.
Drilling down a little further, I wish more people understood the importance of older adults remaining active and involved. Community engagement makes a tremendous difference to a person’s health and well-being, both physical and social/emotional.
Creative Aging is celebrating 20 years. What are the plans to commemorate this milestone?
We will celebrate by continuing to do just what we do while still striving to reach more people, share our story, and make our impact more visible, all of which will encourage more participation and more support.
What is your best piece of advice?
Never underestimate your ability to be creative.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?
Travel, exploring new and unusual flavors of foods, my Apple computer.
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Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.