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A testimony from a BAF volunteer, Lika Walker:

I first wandered into Bell Arts much the same way I’ve found most of my favorite spaces—by simply following curiosity. It was a First Friday event on the Avenue and I was drawn in by the artist studios. I was practicing my Spanish with Maribel when she extended an invitation to join her for a Wednesday art class for the  community kids. Her voice was warm and encouraging, “Es solamente en español."

16 months later, todavía estoy aquí, still learning, still in awe.

I’ve lived in West Ventura for nearly 10 years now and am always looking for ways to give back to the community that has given me so much. In these uncertain times, I especially wanted to be a familiar, trusted face for the kids in our neighborhood. And as a bonus I would be able to brush up on mi español. But what started as an effort to give back has turned into something far greater. These Wednesdays have become a space where art and language blend, where stories unfold in collages and clay molds, where talent bursts forth in ways that continually surprise me.

Maribel has spent decades nurturing this space, offering a room filled with color, creativity, and, most of all, comfort. For many of the kids, Bell Arts is more than an after-school program—it’s a sanctuary. A place where they can create freely, where their native language isn’t just spoken but celebrated. Where, with time and guidance, art transforms into something more—an opportunity.

I saw it firsthand with Lucero. It started with an idea—a small sewing kit. We worked through the process together, from the first stitch to the final display. When someone purchased her kit at a First Friday event, I showed her the photo of the woman who bought it. Her face lit up in a way that made my heart catch. The name Lucero derives from the Spanish word luz which means “light”. In that moment, she was absolutely glowing.

Then there’s Angela, a young artist whose jewelry and pottery booth I frequent—not out of obligation, but because I genuinely love her work. She’s been coming to Bell Arts for many years, learning her craft under Maribel’s guidance. What started as a childhood passion has evolved into something more—something tangible. A business. A future.