A Window Between Worlds was founded as a result of a most unusual road trip taken by Cathy Salser in 1991. An idealistic emerging Los Angeles artist who wanted to share the power of art to connect with others, Cathy left her job as an art teacher and traveled through 18 states stopping at 32 domestic violence shelters.

During the tour, she offered art workshops and made art with the women she met along the way. As a painfully shy young person art had allowed her to speak and be heard and she took this opportunity to share this potential for transformation with others.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Cathy partnered with a local domestic violence organization to pilot the first ongoing Windows Program providing weekly art workshops at a shelter, effectively launching A Window Between Worlds. From the outset, AWBW art workshops were designed to help women reclaim their lives and move toward a healthy future.

Kashi Company, in partnership with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, sponsored a second national tour, bringing over 100 workshops to 18 shelters and their communities.

On her first tour, Cathy had begun a “Portraits of Survivors” series of paintings, weaving together the faces, hands, and words of more than thirty women she interacted with in shelters throughout the country. She exhibited this series on her second tour, along with gathering more stories and creating more portraits reflecting the lives of the women she met.

Affirming the strength, dignity and hope of survivors, Cathy’s powerful series was exhibited at the Russell Senate Building in Washington, DC to launch National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1994.

Then Senator Joe Biden, a staunch proponent of the Violence Against Women Act, gave the presiding remarks at the exhibit’s opening reception. In a written Congressional Record he explained how the exhibition allowed for "a 'window of understanding' into the strength and hopes of battered women nationwide."

In 1996, at the request of the Los Angeles Domestic Violence Council, AWBW created an art program specifically for children living in domestic violence shelters. The Children's Windows Program succeeded in bringing art workshops to 17 shelters in its first year alone, many of which had no other children’s programming.

Just as with women, art proved to be an effective way for children to express their feelings, build self-confidence, and develop hope for a healthy future.

In 1998, AWBW was honored a second time by having artwork displayed in the Russell Senate Building for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. "A Journey of Survival" featured 25 Journey Markers made by women nationwide.

These personal reminders of strength and hope were made for every survivor to carry with her, and having their artwork chosen for the exhibit was a powerful validation of their artistic voices, as well as the importance of their stories.

In 2006 AWBW reached over 6,000 women and children in 16 states. In honor of the organization’s 15th Anniversary, AWBW engaged supporters around the country to lend their voices by participating in the Community Story Tree project and exhibition. The tree was revealed in October 2006 during Domestic Violence Awareness Month at Cal Poly Pomona’s Kellogg Gallery.

AWBW's Community Story Tree remains as an ongoing exhibit to provide a safe way for viewers to reflect on and share their own experiences with domestic violence while learning they are not alone and that there is the possibility for a violence-free future. Additional Story Trees were created around the country.

In 2011 AWBW grew to reach over 13,000 women and children annually in 29 states. From 2009 to 2011, our Los Angeles area programs expanded by 86%.

The 20th anniversary afforded AWBW many new opportunities, including an invitation to present our special anniversary exhibit "Pearls of Wisdom: End the Violence" at the Skirball Cultural Center in partnership with the "Half the Sky" exhibit, fulfilling a long-held dream. In its 8-month run at the Skirball, "Pearls of Wisdom" was viewed by over 400,000 people.

Also in honor of the 20th anniversary, Vice President Joe Biden sent a letter of commendation to AWBW recognizing our work in providing a safe environment for survivors to work on their healing processes. In his words, "Through the power of creative expression, this organization has not only provided an outlet for victims to express their feelings, but a renewed sense of hope for their future."

In October of 2012 AWBW launched the community art initiative "I CAN WE CAN" by inviting the community to lend a hand, literally, to show their support and help raise awareness about domestic violence. Participants created art on their hands as symbols of solidarity and then added their stories and photographs to an online community gallery.

Press coverage expanded to include "I CAN WE CAN" on a digital billboard in New York's Times Square, making "I CAN WE CAN" the most widely seen AWBW project to date.

AWBW’s first annual heART gala food and wine tasting event was a celebration of the launch of AWBW’s third decade using art as a healing tool. In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, AWBW honored then Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for coming forward as a childhood domestic violence survivor and for his unwavering commitment to ending this silent epidemic in our community.

We were proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity - SF/SCV, adding transformative art workshops to the enrichment services they provide for disabled and low income veterans and families of the fallen.

Since this pilot program in September 2013 AWBW has continued to adapt our curriculum to address the invisible wounds of war for veterans and active members of the military, including post traumatic stress and military sexual trauma.

Since its beginning, AWBW’s work has been centered in the field of domestic violence, providing art interventions for women and their children. As a result of a survey of our trained Windows Leaders, it became clear that our programs were already being used to serve those impacted by violence and trauma beyond the domestic violence shelter setting.

In response, at our 14th annual Art in the Afternoon AWBW’s founder Cathy Salser unveiled AWBW’s new mission: “A Window Between Worlds is dedicated to using art as a healing tool to empower and transform individuals and communities impacted by violence and trauma.”

Guided by the new mission we have sustained and deepened our existing core programs, while expanding on our capacity to assist new populations including male survivors, veterans and their families, sexual assault survivors, gang-impacted youth and others.

Today we have clarified our mission even further — emphasizing both our role within the nationwide network of programs and Windows Leaders doing such important work with anyone who may need it and the role the art has in the healing process.

In October of 2014, The City of Los Angeles Domestic Violence Task Force and A Window Between Worlds held the first Day of Action in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness month. The special day invited the Los Angeles community to gather in solidarity to bring awareness to the complex issue of domestic violence.

The theme of the event was, and continues to be, based upon the ongoing "I CAN WE CAN" art initiative we launched in 2012 to strengthen, connect and unite the community to end domestic violence.

At the Day of Action press conference, the City of Los Angeles Domestic Violence Task Force awarded AWBW with the Dr. Marjorie Braude Award in recognition of our innovative collaborations in serving victims of domestic violence.

Since its inception, A Window Between Worlds has grown from one Los Angeles-based program to now being facilitated at over 300 locations, serving over 23,000 women, men and children each year. In honor of the 25th anniversary, AWBW launched the 25 for 25 campaign, inviting each and every supporter from our 25-year history to play a role in this exciting time of growth.