by Kelli Prescott and Amy Torchia
Windows Facilitators
Vermont
We have learned through our shared experience serving in the domestic violence field that it is through relationships and togetherness that we grow, learn, and heal. It is from this place that we share our journey of birthing an art-centered, healing community through the power of AWBW programming.
The Healing Together Project of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (The Network) supports a community of more than 50 advocates and partners in DV/SV prevention and intervention, substance abuse recovery, mental health, LGBTQ+ youth services, and services for families experiencing incarceration across the state of Vermont who have been trained as AWBW Facilitators. We exist as a community of creative, caring Facilitators who meet quarterly to explore durational art practices (art done over time and in connection with others) and experience AWBW art workshops together.
Each of us works with individuals, children, youth, adults, parents, caregivers, and families in powerful and important ways. Each of us comes to our work with unique skills and each of us experiences stress and seeks restoration.
Healing Together took shape when The Network applied for a federal grant to support connections and healing between children and their parents/caretakers who experienced domestic violence at the intersections of trauma, incarceration, and addiction. We put our dream list of activities into our application, and it included training advocates to become AWBW Facilitators to bring expressive healing opportunities to children and caregivers.
We began training advocates shortly after we received our funding, starting with project staff. What started as a vision of building capacity for a small number of partners soon became something much bigger. Over the course of the next three years, we sponsored another 40+advocates to be trained, bringing healing art programming to support the work they’re doing with survivors across the state.
The Network first began implementing the Healing Together project in the fall of 2020 while staring out at each other from little boxes on our screens. As we realized the accessible healing power of AWBW, we started bringing art activities into our meetings the same as we were sharing them with those we served. We began to devote time to breathe together and check in about how we were doing before launching into our agendas. We introduced what became a popular workshop for many of us, using both real stones and touchstones on paper to show our journey from where we were, to where we wanted to go. The stones became literal touchstones we could return to when we needed to remember our “from” and “towards.” This was new for many of us.
Seeing the positive benefits we were experiencing in our meetings, we realized that AWBW programming could also benefit the advocates implementing Healing Together out in the field. The idea for a cohort of Vermont-based AWBW Facilitators was born. Advocates were invited to gather for quarterly meetings where we could find joy in exploring, learning, and growing together. Now entering our project’s fourth and final year, we have harnessed this healing joy into a tight-knit community of AWBW Facilitators who have found deep value in the time we spend together.
One of them reflected, “We can take a step back. Take space for ourselves and connect more deeply with each other and ourselves. The same way survivors do. And I think this will mean better outcomes for survivors.”
With encouragement from AWBW, we are exploring durational art as a group. We began by creating squares for what will become a story cloth community durational art piece. At our most recent meeting, we each made a square about what the transitions of autumn mean for us. We plan to continue creating on our squares at our meetings as we move seasonally through the year until all four corners are completed. Each person will create on squares started by others. This piece will be truly durational and co-created by our community. One member of our group shared, “I love the framework of durational art…. Time allows for growth, different perspectives, and space in art.” Even after the Healing Together project has ended, our community plans to continue meeting over time and through the seasons of our lives, for as long as we can.
Relationships are healing. Being together is healing. When we named our project Healing Together, we didn’t realize that it would also come to include nurturing ourselves – healing ourselves – as advocates and service providers. AWBW has given us a way not only to support individual survivors and families, but also to heal together as a community. And this is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
by Kelli Prescott and Amy Torchia
Windows Facilitators
Vermont
Want to bring healing art programming to your community?
A Window Between Worlds (AWBW) supports hundreds of direct service organizations across the country to incorporate creative expression into their work with trauma survivors. With this blog we uplift the voices of our art workshop facilitators and participants. We invite you to take in this perspective, notice what resonates and explore how it may fit into your life.