The Art Can Save Lives

Please describe the mission of your organization.

To ensure that more people, particularly victims of violence and abuse, can recover from their trauma through the access to and the use of various forms of art therapy.

In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?

• City of Los Angeles

In what stage of innovation is this project?

Pilot project or new program

What is the need you’re responding to?

We are responding to the need for mental health services and providing a solution to the lack of access that many Los Angeles victims’ needs. The context of this project is to bring together survivors, loved ones, allies and victims to know that we are in this together and can heal together. Healing and live vibrantly discovering a healthy relationship is what we hope to accomplish.

Why is this project important to the work of your organization?

We are uniquely suited to take on this project because we have been on the frontlines of LA reaching victims and working with our target population to provide these services and have the trained and qualified staff to serve the population that needs the help the most. This project is important to our organization because people deserved to be loved, know love and know what self-love is, but also how to create a safe mental space to appreciate and express themselves. Creative Arts Therapy is still a highly untapped resource and we are the first nonprofit to provide all modalities (dance, art, music, drama and writing/poetry) in one place at little to no cost for the communities we serve.

Approximately how many people will be impacted by this proposal?

Please describe the broader impact of your proposal.

The population we are choosing to serve is one that is often overlooked because it’s not talked about or discussed, we want to open the gates to the impact of what benefits healing can provide and how to recover. By addressing the recovery of trauma we are providing an outlet to create healthy and vibrant relationships which in turn leads to higher self-esteem and personal development. Creative arts therapy provides a safe way to explore themselves and their emotions as they rebuild their life and purpose after trauma, while connecting with other individuals with similar life experiences.

Please explain how you will define and measure success for your project.

Success for this project will be defined by the number of individuals who commit to reducing the number of violence and abuse cases across LA through our outreach and teaching efforts. By breaking the stigma surrounding mental health services and making mental health services affordable regardless of ability to pay. Using a creative outlet to express repressed emotions and then start from those feelings to undertake the healing process has been proven to be less invasive and provide a safer environment for. Through access to creative arts therapy, a wider range of population will be able to approach mental health.

Which of the connect metrics will your submission impact?​

• Social and emotional support
• Public arts and cultural events

Are there any other LA2050 goal categories that your proposal will impact?

• LA is the best place to LEARN
• LA is the best place to CREATE
• LA is the best place to PLAY

Which of LA2050’s resources will be of the most value to you?

• Access to the LA2050 community
• Host public events or gatherings
• Capacity, including staff