Every Friday morning, the mutual-support group Word Arts for Women meets to learn and teach coping skills, express difficult feelings, and just relax through art. Up until March, the only involvement I had in the group was putting it on the schedule every month so clients knew it existed. I watched with admiration as the women would pour out of the class each week, smiling and laughing, building a community amongst themselves at Sulzbacher Center, the homeless shelter I serve at. I loved seeing how making their new creations (watercolor paintings, poetry, and collages) had allowed them to recreate themselves; they were inspired to re-write their narrative full of hope and wisdom.

Imagine my disappointment when I was asked to take Word Arts off the schedule! The class’s current facilitator had lost her funding, so she had no resources for the class. For a week, I debated internally whether I should (and could) create a new class to fill the gap. She was a volunteer from an art-specific organization, while I had no artistic talent, training, or supplies. Seemingly, I had nothing but a determination to Get Things Done (as they say in AmeriCorps). But without art supplies, is that really enough?

With some resourcefulness, yes, yes it is! Another department here at Sulzbacher, Children’s Services, had a plethora of crayons, construction paper, and markers lurking in their cabinets that they graciously allowed us to use for class. It wasn’t the fancy watercolors or pastels used in the previous rendition of the class, but it was enough. And so, the class was recreated! Every week, I’m honored and humbled to see what Word Arts for Women generates from the most humble supplies.

The group is comprised of women from all walks of life: nurses, teachers, mathematicians, and artists; PhD candidates and high school dropouts; homeless since their teens or recently fallen upon hard times; but together we form Word Arts for Women. By supporting each other and fostering their own creativity, these women are empowered to create something greater; as a community they build something bigger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This blog post was written by NHC Florida member Jen Hoerbelt.

Jen serves at the I.M. Sulzbacher Center in the Life Skills Department as a Health Educator