Miriam “Mimi” Overholt

Memorial Fund

Miriam “Mimi” Overholt was a beloved mentor, leader, and teacher within Juniper Arts Academy.

Throughout her time with us, Mimi’s impact was profound: she led music and art classes at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Facility, developed the curriculum for our very first “Clay Camp,” and mentored our development committee as we navigated our inaugural fundraising event. The mission of Juniper Arts Academy is deeply inspired by the work Mimi and her colleagues, including Lisa Paine, championed through Legacy Camps.

Every young person who interacted with Mimi left with more love in their heart and a stronger sense of belonging. In her final music workshop at the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Facility, she taught a group of young men a song with lyrics that resonated deeply:

“Loosen, loosen, baby, > You don’t have to carry the weight of the world in your muscles and bones, > Let go, let go, let go.”

A month later, those same boys were still singing those words as they entered the classroom.

Mimi generously selected Juniper Arts Academy to host a memorial fund in her honor. Contributions to this fund will directly support our new “Mimi’s Corner” project—a dedicated space in every classroom filled with comfortable seating and sensory tools to help students regulate their emotions. Through “Mimi’s Corner,” her legacy of love, peace, and belonging will continue to support our students for years to come.

We will miss Mimi forever, and are committed to keeping her memory and legacy alive through this new project.