July 2021 Newsletter

It’s been super busy lately so we were really happy to be able to send our newsletter out to our subscribers. What? You didn’t know you could do that? Well please let us fix that for you. Click, complete, DONE! Now that our newsletter will be sent directly to your inbox, you can relax and read our July newsletter at your leisure. Enjoy that art and all that we have accomplished with your help! If you want to click on a link (and we hope you do) to see where it leads you, try this. Happy reading and as always, thank you for your support!

 

Who is your Superhero?

Who is your Super Hero? Wonder Woman? Batman? Or, as we did with the women at the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center in Alexandria, VA, we made our own. Our super heroes have magic in them that help us and help the world. Take a look at what creative and healing superheroes the inmates created under the guidance of our amazing Heard teacher Sharmila Karamchandani. Don’t you wish these superheroes really existed?
This creature has a calming face and body of strength. The red fingertips have healing quality. She comes into your life to make you realize your own beauty.
Meet the Pain Relieving Octopus! It has healing tentacles. Wherever you have pain the tentacles can heal you upon touch.

Nonprofit ‘Heard’ to Teach Art and Creative Writing Classes on Zoom with Alexandria Jail Inmates

“Creative writing nonprofit Heard is still finding ways to make noise.” Love that opening sentence! Our thanks to ALXnow editor James Cullum for featuring us on June 24, 2020. And yes, we’re excited to start virtual classes again at the Alexandria Detention Center! Here’s our executive director, Jane Collins (second from right) with Sheriff Dana Lawhorne (far right) and a few of the winner from the 2019 Heard/Alexandria Detention Center writing contest.

Heard Arts Program Brings Creative Expression to Marginalized Individuals

What a fabulous surprise to read this story from the City of Alexandria eNews

Expressing oneself through art can be both a freeing and insightful experience, and clinicians and therapists often use art as a treatment option in their support of individuals facing a range of challenges, including mental health and substance use disorders. This fall, the Alexandria Residential Treatment Center (ARTC) partnered with Heard, a local nonprofit, to offer art workshops for individuals in recovery. (more…)