About the Renzi Center

The Renzi Education & Art Center was created in May of 1997 with the donation of a large house on Egan Street in Shreveport, Louisiana to the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows Congregation.

The property was in deplorable condition; it took the Sisters and volunteers approximately eighteen months to renovate and refurbish the facility. During this process, one thing became clear: The children living in this area needed a safe and constructive place to learn and play. Therefore, the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows founded the Renzi Education and Art Center as an outreach program for youth living in the Highland neighborhood and surrounding areas of Shreveport, Louisiana. Since that time the program has grown to include an additional facility, in order to keep up with the demand for services.

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Renzi Education and Art Center is to provide quality art and scholastic experiences for at-risk youth in the Shreveport-Bossier area, as well as a supportive and equipped environment for artists and instructors to practice their disciplines.

Our Vision Statement

The Renzi Education and Art Center is committed to the future of our community and an enhanced quality of life for all who choose to become involved in our vision. We dedicate our efforts - under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, following the charisma of Elisabetta Renzi, their foundress - to establish an environment that will nurture creativity, self-esteem, and intellectual pursuit. The Renzi Education and Art Center is a community gathering place, a safe place for individual exploration and growth and a haven for the creative spirit.