Canterbury School senior connects generations through painting

Inside Shell Point Senior Living in Lee County, no matter how simple the idea or what takes shape on canvas, connection takes shape, too. The person bringing generations together is Canterbury School senior Leena Abuoqab. "I've always been someone that likes to express myself creatively, whether that's through drawing, paint, or through my photography," said Leena. One day in class, Leena was inspired to create "H.Art," or "Healing Through Art." It's an initiative whose purpose is to connect seniors and students. "We do what I call partner speed painting," said Leena. "They're like, well, I'm not good at painting, I don't paint, and I let them know the whole point of it is not to create a perfect masterpiece." Assistant Head of Upper School Shannon Frank says Leena's goal is to bridge a gap through shared experience. "She cares," said Shannon. "She wants to make the world a better place." Sometimes, the most meaningful thing we can create is a moment shared together. "We see we have so much in common, and it's really fun to get to talk to them and listen to all of their stories," said Leena. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.