Volunteer

Laura Avila

I volunteer as an Art Design Assistant and Student Intern with The Hearts Project, where I’ve explored my creativity while contributing to a meaningful cause. Starting as a high school junior, I helped create large-scale collages honoring lives lost to COVID-19—an experience that deepened my understanding of both art and humanity. My work with the project inspired my college essays and opened life-changing opportunities, including the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and admission to Columbia University through QuestBridge National College Match. I’m grateful to Monica Moore for her mentorship and continue to volunteer, encouraging others to join in making a difference—one heart at a time.

PROJECT ASSEMBLY

Lex Blevins

Lex Blevins is a visual artist in Fayetteville, Arkansas. her work focuses on the themes of the repetitive nature of mental illness, the meditative process of healing and preserving the mundane moments that make up daily life. As such, she was drawn to The Hearts Project not only due to Monica’s passion for the subject, but because the process of arranging the hearts in careful patterns mirrors those themes of meditative healing.

Woodworker Hobbyist

Joel Doelger

Joel is the woodworker who designed and built the first three frames featured in The Hearts Project.  His contributions will continue, as he donated his design plans to those who will complete the additional 12 frames. At first, Joel intended to limit his involvement to digital frame design and make a small prototype from which others could work.

As time passed, Joel’s altruism emerged when he graciously agreed to make the frames for a small fee. This much larger undertaking included buying the wood, cutting parts to size, planing them to thickness, cutting rabbet grooves, assembling the full frames, and staining them. Joel’s efforts were invaluable to the project.

Community Connections

Shelley Mouber

Shelley has built strong relationships throughout Northwest Arkansas and beyond to expand the project’s visibility and strengthen community awareness. By leveraging her wide network, she creates opportunities for collaboration, outreach, and meaningful public engagement. Her interest in recycled and sustainable art in her own practice adds depth to the project’s story and helps connect its mission to broader environmental values. The personal inspiration that first drew her to the project continues to guide her work, shaping how she shares its purpose, impact, and creative vision.

Chief Artist and Foundation President

Monica Moore

I am the acting executive director/president of the Hearts Project Foundation. I am also the chief/founding artist of the Hearts Project: A COVID-19 Memorial.

As the founding artist of the Hearts Project, it is important to note that my motivation for cutting paper hearts to preserve and create memory was inspired by my visit to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima, Japan when in high school. This trip informed my understanding of the multidimensional ways art can be used to honor lives lost during tragic events. I believe that many COVID deaths could have been avoided had we resolved to do things differently. The Foundation’s mission of using the memorial art to help educate diverse groups about how to avoid similar catastrophe and massive loss in the future is one I wholeheartedly support.

I bring key insights to the Board as the chief/founding artist of the Hearts Project: A COVID-19 Memorial. Being intertwined with making and circulating the art helps me convey intentions, ongoing accomplishments, and hopes for the future to promote our good work. I enjoy working in groups and look forward to using my leadership skills to help the Board carry out its mission.

Tom Frentz is my spouse, and the Hearts Project and Hearts Project Foundation exist in large part because of his encouragement and belief in me. Mostly, I work on the Hearts Project, a necessary way to spend my time given the scope of the memorial and our ambitious goals. I love to garden and often take pictures of the blossoms as each year goes by. I also love frolicking around the house with our indoor boy-cat Shadow.

One word — Hope

Board and Project Advisor

Tom Frentz

After 48 years of educating the youth of America, I stepped away from the classroom as a Professor of Communication at the University of Arkansas in 2018.

I chose to be an advisor to the Board because I strongly believe in its mission to remind and educate the people of Arkansas about the impact of the pandemic on their lives.

I hope to advance the Foundation’s fundraising efforts and keep the Foundation financially solvent. I also offer Monica creative suggestions from time to time, some of which she actually uses.

In retirement, I am an avid reader of all literature—good and bad. I love washing and waxing our cars. I exercise regularly, enjoy afternoon naps on the daily (it keeps you young), and always look forward to happy hour with Monica to toast another day of life. I also have a silver Egyptian cat named Shadow, a “feral” kitty who showed up during the first spring of the pandemic. Though I am very fond of Shadow, he brought some emotional baggage with him, which means I can only love him from afar. He does, however, allow me to clean his litter boxes, refresh his food bowls daily, and keep him in fresh, clear water.

One phrase — Remembrance and wisdom.