“The easiest way, I think, to describe my work these days is a culmination of my passions, training, experience, and ever-evolving…I have always seen art, used art, benefited from art as a form of expression, a form of fun and play, curiosity,…healing and recovery. Making sense of things, period. I weave creativity into everything I do.”
~Sarah Johnson, The Joy Labs
Sarah Johnson is a community engaged artist, licensed mental health professional, and human with many years of experience in prevention, health promotion, art, and community-building. She is based in Winona, Minnesota, on Dakota homelands, and is engaged locally, regionally, and nationally. In 2021 Sarah founded The Joy Labs, and works to build healthy, connected communities where we all have what we need to be able to effectively care for ourselves and each other. Sarah has been a SEMAC grantee as an individual artist, as well as a community partner for organizational grants. And throughout 2026 she also has been the facilitator of a series of Community Care for Creatives (CC4C) sessions, hosted by SEMAC.
Sarah describes The Joy Labs as:
“Laboratory as in that spirit of experimentation and play and curiosity…And also joy, which I think could easily be misconstrued to, like, happy, happy, happy. And toxic positivity. What I mean by joy is the full embodiment of wholehearted living.”
The Joy Labs offers coaching, consultation, and creativity to individuals, organizations, and communities who would like to experience greater joy. Through The Joy Labs Sarah brings her skills, experience, and training to help individuals, organizations, and communities live and operate with vibrance and vitality.
“Working in the mental health field really solidified my deepest passion, which is prevention. Which is why I now do what I’m doing. And trying to figure out how to do what I do even better, differently, more impactfully. More effectively. Some of my work is more the mental health, training/education kind of work. Some of it is art, just for art’s sake. And it’s the overlap that I call the sweet spot. An example would be our Community Care for Creatives sessions.”
Community Care for Creatives
This year, in response to Metro Surge among other injustices regionally, nationally, and globally, SEMAC embarked on several community initiatives, including a partnership with Sarah to offer seven Community Care for Creatives: A Moment to Breathe & Be Together sessions. These free 15 minute virtual opportunities over the lunch hour invited creatives in our region to take a moment to pause, connect, and be guided through a mindfulness process.
Participants have found value in these sessions, writing to her afterwards:
“This is exactly what I needed today. The breath… the pause… the anchor… the pearls of joy, connection, grounding… and the empowerment and reminder that even the smallest of doses of this goodness matters so much and is achievable.”
“Thanks Sarah, I’ve been struggling with the weight of the world right now so I appreciate this time to release.”
Sarah recently reflected on the value of Community Care for Creatives for her as well:
“Care, by its nature, is reciprocal. I hold dear the time in which SEMAC has enabled me to offer Community Care for Creatives. While I am the creative offering care, I benefit from the care that is beamed back at me in our brief virtual mindful time together. I call that Soul Fuel. CC4C leaves me deeply appreciative and always pleasantly reminded of how powerful intentional moments of connection can be.”
YMCA: Stronger Together
Another way that Sarah shows up deeply for and with community in the realm of mental health is her evolving relationship with the YMCA. The Y is a local as well as national and international organization that offers programs “that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.”
Sarah has worked as both a community partner as well as directly for the YMCA, and is currently partnering with them again. “I’m really thankful that the work I started with my team, originally as a community partner, is work that is now [informing] the leading practices…One of the other things I love about the Y is that it’s for all– which is easy to say, and incredibly complex to actually DO… what does that actually mean? When we center there, we’re all going to benefit…We’re all stronger together. “
Her commitment to working towards access for everyone to live a holistically healthy life is evident: “When people say health, I want them to understand that means [our] physical health…mental and emotional health…cognitive health…social health..spiritual health…creative health. It means the whole package.”
Sarah then posed this important question as an invitation to consider:
“What does this [health] mean for you in your day to day? How can your life and your emotional being, your connections, your resources be what you need? No matter where you are.”
ARTCAMP!
Another initiative Sarah has been offering in our region is ARTCAMP! Offered in various Winona venues in partnership with the City of Winona, and initially funded by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, ARTCAMP! is “an invitation to get creative and get inspired by our beautiful natural area.” ARTCAMP! is free and open to all youth and adults. Locations have included Holzinger Lodge, Prairie Island Campground, and Maplewood Townhomes. ARTCAMP! has been very successful, and it is now in its third year. The focus currently is on decreasing potential barriers to access such as cost, transportation, and trust.
Sarah has been working with youth at Maplewood for a couple of years on projects like indoor and outdoor murals, tie dye, and other artmaking. “This week, because I’ve been asking them, ‘What kind of art do you want to do?’…they finally responded with: ‘Can we do slime?!’ It was kind of like a challenge. And I said ‘Yeah, let’s do it!!’ And it was wildly popular!” While fun, creative, and slimy…social skills, managing emotions, and relationship building are also part of these creative experiences with Sarah.
“If we’re building culture, it’s many small doses over and over and over and over and over again. That’s what makes culture. And so, I try to make every, every dose I have, one where I’m showing up listening, and with kindness and with invitations. I’m seeing over a couple of years of that relationship building, progress with many of those relationships. [And with] some of the…harder-earned ones, I’m seeing it makes a difference that [I keep] showing up.”
“Relationship building is the foundation of everything…It’s all relational.”
Everyone is invited to join Sarah at the upcoming ARTCAMP! sessions in SEMAC’s region this fall at Mainspring in Caledonia on November 14, and Holzinger Lodge in Winona on November 16. Check out her Events page, and follow The Joy Labs on Facebook and Instagram for more opportunities! And if you or your community is interested in working with Sarah, please reach out to her.
Article by Sharon Mansur for SEMAC’s November 2026 Impact Story feature.
Resources
National Helpline: Dial 988
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, we understand that life’s challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you’re facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.
SEMAC’s Community Care Resource List
Here you can find a sampling of community care resources for our Southeastern Minnesota communities. semac.org/resources/community-care/
University of Florida (UF): Center for Arts in Medicine
The UF Center for Arts in Medicine is a national leader in arts in health research, education, and practice, and unites artists, scholars, and healthcare professionals to explore how creativity transforms lives.