With Ravenna Raven and Jenny Hegland

Poets Ravenna Raven and Jenny Hegland will be on site from 1 – 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20th writing custom poems for anyone who’s interested in talking with them.  Conversations typically last 5-15 minutes. Poems are then composed, typewritten, and given to each individual who participates.”

More about Ravenna and Jenny

Ravenna Raven has lived in D.C. for the past decade teaching reading, writing, and yoga to students of all ages and learning how to sew and alter custom garments. Ravenna holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from the George Washington University and an MFA in Poetry from the University of Maryland.
Jenny is a creative facilitator, coach, and social entrepreneur whose life’s work centers around community engagement, participatory leadership, and social justice. She moved to the greater DC area in 2018 after living in Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) for three years, where she co-founded and led two disaster recovery nonprofits. Prior to that she worked in higher education for 10 years as a counselor, instructor, and partnership liaison. She holds a M.S. in counseling and a B.S. in communications. 

 

 

 

With Theresa Walker

Tuesday, August 27th

Would you like to go on an adventure? It’s called SoulCollage® and the Road Ahead.

Its purpose? To nurture, explore, discover, and direct our life energies…to enjoy community and creativity and to see messages from our inner selves…our hearts and souls.

No artistic experience is needed for this activity, which is simple and engaging.
SoulCollage® and the Road Ahead
Create a small collage on 5 x8 high-quality cards.
Guided exercises to learn how to read your images
for self-care, wisdom, inner healing, and fun.
About Theresa Walker 

Theresa is a registered SoulCollage® facilitator and has led groups since 2011. She is a certified expressive arts facilitator, trained at Salve Regina University in writing and visual arts, and she is a graduate of Shalem’s Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups program. She finds that SoulCollage®, especially in a Group setting, offers participants a unique experience of playfulness, insight, and creativity.

 

Due to low registration, this program has been canceled for February 2.

In Partnership with George Washington Cancer Center, Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center, and Camp Kesem

If you or a loved one had been diagnosed with cancer, you may have concerns about how younger members of your family are coping.  Kids’ Club is a group of children ages 6 to 12 with parents or grandparents in treatment for cancer.  Teen club is for those ages 13 – 18 with parents or grandparents in treatment for cancer. 

Each session, kids, teens, and parents will enjoy pizza together and then each group will go to separate rooms to talk and make art.  Our topics include communicating feelings, building personal strengths, and developing coping skills.  We invite everyone to share as much or as little as they feel comfortable.

Although we are brought together by our common experiences with cancer, Kids/Teen Club is not a sad or scary place; we have fun! Our goal is to have positive interactions with other families dealing with illness and to learn new ways of expressing and managing feelings. Our facilitators are experienced social workers, counselors, and trained volunteers.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Rebecca Wilkinson, MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT

Mandalas for Managing Stress and Increasing Wellbeing

Mandalas – circular designs that communicate symbolic meaning – have been used for centuries as a form of contemplative practice in many spiritual traditions.

In this brief but focused workshop, we will use mandala imagery, writing, and meditative practice to bring creativity, healing, and an increased sense of grounding and balance into our lives. Absolutely no previous art experience is needed. The workshop is designed for all ranges of artistic experience–you need not consider yourself an artist to attend.

 

Suggested Materials:

  • Paper to draw on – can be any size or color that you like; we usually work with something between 6 x 6 to 12 x 12
  • Art supplies to draw or paint with – E.G. colored pencils, magic markers, chalk or oil pastels, watercolor paints, and/or acrylics
  • Plate or circular shape – to draw an outline of a circle on the paper
  • For those of you who do creative or art journaling, you are welcome to use your journal to create your mandala.

Suggested Donation: $10


About Rebecca Wilkinson, MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT

Rebecca Wilkinson

Rebecca Wilkinson, MA, ATR-BC, is a Registered and Board Certified art therapists with twenty years of experience in mental health and in facilitating training and workshops. She serves as adjunct faculty at George Washington University Graduate Art Therapy Program and provide continuing education and development through the Potomac Art Therapy Association. She facilitates supportive workshops for those affected by life threatening illness and the professional providers working with them. Co-founder of Creative Wellbeing Workshops, LLC, which provides training, consultation, and clinical therapy designed to reduce stress, prevent burnout and increase life satisfaction and wellbeing.

With Kiersten Gallagher and Maura Singer

In this two-day healing workshop, we will explore stress relief techniques, practice qigong, yoga and meditation, work with grief and loss in small groups, and use ritual to process. We will use art, writing, and movement as tools to find our voice and purpose through creativity. We will connect with and draw from the healing power of nature. The format of this group work is based on Healing Circles principles to build companionship, support, and trust in the inherent wisdom and compassion of each individual and of the group. Women ages 20-55 at any stage are welcome.

Workshop is limited to 12 participants; please RVSP early to secure attendance.

Workshop is from 11am – 5pm Saturday, August 5th and Sunday, August 6th.