A Ramp, A Rail, an Arts Program: Building a Nonprofit Reaching 100,000 People | Nan Young, Art Trek

In 1990, Nan Young was told her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter — who has cerebral palsy — couldn't attend the same elementary school as her brother. The school wasn't accessible. There was no ADA. So Nan made a deal: an arts program in exchange for a ramp and a rail. The principal agreed. Her daughter became the first physically disabled child to attend a public school in the Conejo Valley Unified School District.That handshake deal is the seed of Art Trek, the nonprofit Nan now runs as Executive Director — a 115+ person organization working in over 100 schools from Long Beach to Santa Barbara, reaching roughly 100,000 people a year. In 2024, Nan was named Woman of the Year.In this episode of F5 Collective Presents: Women in Business, Nan shares:✨ The ramp-and-rail story that started everything✨ Going from "we made money this year!" to "...but how much did it cost us?"✨ Growing a dining-room project into a community-anchor nonprofit✨ The "inner spark" she hires for — and why skills come second✨ Manage daily. Look long term. Both. Always.✨ "Be frugal, but never cheap" — especially with your staff✨ From sapling to mighty oak: how deep roots survive droughts✨ Why every art class teaches life skills, not just drawing✨ Why Art Trek says yes to (almost) everything✨ Partnership over competition: how she works with other nonprofits✨ "Keep yourself humble, keep yourself hungry, keep yourself smart"Whether you're a nonprofit founder, a creative entrepreneur, or anyone who has ever had to ask for what you need with nothing but a good idea to trade, Nan's story is a masterclass in patient, principled growth.About Nan Young: Nan Young is the Executive Director of Art Trek Inc., an independent, hands-on, not-for-profit arts organization bringing visual, literary, and performing arts to communities across Southern California. Named Woman of the Year in 2024, Nan has spent over three decades building Art Trek from a PTA program in her dining room into a regional powerhouse serving over 100 schools and 100,000 people annually.🎨 Learn more at https://www.arttrek.org/The growth engine for women who mean business.http://www.f5collective.com0:00 Opening: Art Is More Than What's on the Surface0:37 Welcome & Introduction0:53 What Makes a Nonprofit4:13 The Origin: Art Trek Started in My Dining Room5:36 A Ramp and a Rail: The 1990 Handshake Deal6:26 Her Daughter, a Pioneer in Public School8:22 Becoming a 501(c)(3) in 20069:36 "How Much Did It Cost Us?" Learning the Business10:35 Camp Counselor, Theater Director, Teacher15:44 Why Art Is More Than the Activity16:35 Building the Team: Staff and Volunteers17:02 100+ Schools, 115+ People20:23 Why the Arts Matter for Everyone22:01 Creative Moments: A Necessity, Not a Luxury23:54 Working With Engineers, Scientists & Youth in Detention26:51 Reaching 100,000 People a Year28:43 Saying Yes to Everything31:53 $5 Fridays and Community Events34:33 The Power of Partnerships36:30 Youth, Government & Nonprofit Collaboration37:40 Does She Still Make Her Own Art?40:17 Every Art Project Starts With a Blank Page41:45 What's Next: Theater, Writing, Performance43:47 From Sapling to Mighty Oak45:17 On AI: Useful Tool, But Not in the Classroom50:02 Business Advice: Communication, Long View, Daily Management50:49 Be Frugal, But Never Cheap52:07 Rapid Five Q&A54:21 Closing Thanks