Children Mending Hearts (CMH) was founded in 2008 by filmmaker Lysa Heslov after being inspired by her life-changing experiences aiding Hurricane Katrina survivors and visiting war-torn Sudan and Darfur. Witnessing the power of art to bring joy and connection to children facing unimaginable hardship, Lysa envisioned an organization that would empower at-risk youth by fostering empathy and global citizenship through creativity and service learning. Since its founding, CMH has grown from serving 39 children in Los Angeles to reaching thousands across all 50 states. Today, CMH operates the Jordan Downs Center in Watts, which provides after-school programs for elementary and middle schoolers, holistic reentry and personal development programs for youth, and resources for adults and seniors. Guided by the belief that empathy can transform lives and communities, CMH continues its mission to inspire compassion and action in future generations. Lysa and her husband—writer, director, producer and Academy Award winner Grant Heslov—have two daughters of their own.