“Windows of Connection” Workshop Series
When change is anchored through art and carried in community, worlds can transform.
This year, we invite you to create an anchor you can use, over time, to pause and connect with your strength. The whole journey is part of the art.
As you join and move with us, we welcome you to upload your creations and stories to add your voice and spark inspiration using the form below.
Throughout the year, we’ll introduce new ways to connect with yourself, others, your community, and beyond. We will lift up and hold our collective strength, amplifying our voices through shared stories and moments of celebration of our movement toward change.
We invite you to post on your social media profiles using #awbwconnect and tagging @awbworg. You are also welcome to invite your friends, family, and colleagues to join you on this journey, simply link to awbw.org/connect on social media.
If you’d like to create more puzzle pieces, you can download our connection worksheet or purchase a puzzle like some of the ones you’ll see in the images below. In your journey of connection, you might even use this activity to create connection among friends, family, and/or colleagues.
PROMPT #1
What strength in yourself do you most want to connect with?
We invite you to use the tools below to support your journey, or even share to facilitate a group experience. The first video is a four-minute workshop opening. The second video is a minute and a half workshop closing.
Workshop Opening
Workshop Closing
Workshop Opening
Workshop Closing
I created this new piece during the Impact Journey Circle in January. My piece shows me standing in my strength. Studies have shown that standing in this power pose (or the Superman pose) can boost self-confidence. I’m going to be standing in my strength this year as I look to make some big life decisions. If you need a boost of self-confidence, I invite you to power pose with me!
Rudy Hernandez, Los Angeles, California
As I’ve navigated some of life’s more unpleasant realities over the last several years (adulthood, am I right?), I felt my light dimming substantially. This year, I’ve started making it a point to protect and share my inner spark, reminding myself that there’s much more to life than just the systems we’ve allowed to swallow us up. I’m reminding myself that the spark inside is worth cultivating.
Patrick, Los Angeles, California
Family challenges.
Ana McManama, Chatsworth, California
Our pieces represent the universe of our friendship. We’ve been friends for so long and want to carry that forward.
Shreya and Grace, West Hills, California
Courage in pain: this too shall pass. Fortitude, literally living with pain, loss of mother, loss of brother, family in sadness, in loss of what was and understanding it is part of a cycle. And never losing sight of light.
Trini Nuňez, Riverside, California
My partner and I made these puzzle pieces. We are both undergoing career transitions and these are the qualities we want to cultivate to help us navigate through new, exciting, and scary times.
JD, Los Angeles, California
Flowers grow and die, but then grow back again. Some days you feel bad, but then other days are better and you feel good. It’s like a phoenix, but I can’t draw a phoenix so I drew a vine with flowers instead.
Kara, Los Angeles, California
When I’m anxious, even remembering this puzzle piece, this intention, makes me giggle. I created it as I facilitated this workshop with our honorees. The word that came to mind was “calm”. Moments when I need this most, are when it feels impossible, but creating this puzzle piece feels like a support, a crack in the impossible. And, along with “calm” I wrote on my puzzle piece “Stop when needed. Stopping is a creative action.”
Cathy Salser, Los Angeles, California
I choose the word confidence as my strength word because it is a reminder that I have all of the tools I need to be successful, I just have to believe in myself. Back in 2020 my dream was to one day start my own private practice, but I was unable to do so at that time. Although it is still not the right time now, and it may not happen the way I originally envisioned it to happen, my dream is still alive. I am confident in that.
Wendi Baptist-McGehee, LMFT, Apple Valley, California
Using my voice and saying things that have previously been difficult for me is where I really want to grow. I work with people experiencing domestic violence. In a management role now, I’m using my voice to advocate for our clients’ and my staff’s needs. Also in my personal life, I wasn’t always able to vocalize my feelings and needs: either I didn’t know how or didn’t feel safe. But when I find ways to be direct, it helps me connect to others.
Melissa, San Gabriel, California
I love AWBW and everything about the organization! I love how art heals and that everyone can benefit from the workshops! I want to remember always how art heals and how important healing is. I want to tap into my passion for leading workshops and sharing my ideas to assist people at any age to hear through art including myself! My intention to the Universe is to keep on learning and growing my passion and sharing it!
Rose, Phoenix, Arizona
Among the hustle and bustle of the Smithsonian, this nondescript sign spoke to me and gently reminded me that we’re always growing and changing. It prompted me to listen to my gut for direction. Times of transition are also opportunities for growth. I’ve struggled recently to find my path both personally and professionally and maintain balance between the two. My gut tells me that my struggle is not about what direction to take, but who I am and who I want to be.
Andrea Fiero, Lexington, Kentucky
After taking some time to think about what I’ll need in the days and months ahead, courage came to mind. When I’ve needed it the most, my courage has never failed me. With it, I’ve been able to meet life’s twists and turns head on. My puzzle piece will be a reflection of this inner strength and a reminder that I will get to the other side of whatever comes next.
Rudy Hernandez, Los Angeles, California
The strength that I am connecting to is courage. This is my puzzle piece that I created to remember the courage that’s been softly purring inside of me from a very young age. I will keep my art creation close because I am adulting more fiercely than ever, and surely, I am bound to make mistakes, many mistakes. My art piece, however, will remind that this is indeed how I will continue to learn and grow, and to have the courage to keep going no matter what.
Eydie Pasicel, Long Beach aka Tongva Lands, California
The heart puzzle is all the goodness inside of me that is sometimes hidden or has been hurt and does not want to come out. The sharing puzzle is trying to share even through the pain, confusion, regret, self-doubt, etc. By sharing through all of this I become stronger knowing that this sharing is helping someone else.
Shirley Azevedo, Reedley, California
Share Your Art
Beyond the tangible creation, the art is the lived journey of connecting deeply with ourselves & each other.
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