Tag: Education

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

with Kunle Adewale & Kiersten Gallagher

Memorial Art: Home Based Studio Experience

Memorial Art is a home-based studio experience where participants can improvise with materials and create a personal and meaningful experience.

Artwork by Kunle Adewale
Kunle experiments with different art medias in his depiction of a violin.

Memorial Art allows  participants to explore meaningful objects around them.

These objects may be relics, artifacts, photos of loved ones or places, and more.

Goal: To help artists reconnect to their happy place through the art making process

Materials/Objects:
  • Pencils, Crayons, Water-Colour, Acrylic Paints, Canvas, Paper, Cards, Paint Brushes, or whatever you have available.
  • Any other available materials you have at home.
  • Any meaningful objects you have at home. Examples include gifts from loves ones, family and friends, or objects that have spiritual and/or historical meaning.
  • Any picture. Examples include pictures of family members or any pictures that hold great meaning to you.
Art Forms:
  • Collage
  • Mixed Media
  • Painting
  • Assemblage

Wellness in the Time of COVID

The Washington Home

This 6-month integrative wellness series, sponsored by The Washington Home, will be offered to caregivers, those who are critically ill, and those facing cancer-related challenges during this especially difficult time.

Check out the full series program schedule HERE!

Outside the Lines is held Bi-Monthly on Wednesdays from 10:30am – 12:30pm. 

Upcoming sessions:

  • October 7 (Wellness in the Time of COVID Series – withArtwork from an Outside the Lines Participant Kunle Adewale)
  • October 14 (Social Hour)
  • October 28 (The Barquitos de Papel Collective Archive)
  • November 4 & 18
  • December 2 & 16

Suggested donation: $10 per class

Our programs are open to the community, and tailored to meet the needs of people affected by cancer. Classes and workshops are free or low cost on a pay-as-you-can basis, ensuring that our programs are accessible to everyone.

About Kunle Adewale

Kunle Adewale, is an artist and a development practitioner by profession. He is a graduate of Fine and Applied Arts (Painting and Art History), from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. To hone his skills in leadership, he studied Civic Leadership at Tulane University, New Orleans. His penchant for utilizing arts within the healthcare system spurred him into participating in related professional courses such as: Arts in Health for Helping Professionals in Charlotte; Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, United States, and Arts in Health Research Intensive, organised by Center for Arts in Medicine, University of Florida in collaboration with University College London.

Kunle did not stop there. In his quest for more knowledge in the field of Arts in Medicine, he also bagged certificates in: Understanding Dementia and Arts, from University College London (UCL) and, Medicine and The Arts: Humanising Healthcare, from University of Capetown, South Africa. He was one of the selected Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health at the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Currently, he is part of a 1-year training programme on Dementia. To reduce the scale and impact of dementia, the 1-year programme brings together a powerful mix of perspectives, approaches, and skill sets from varying backgrounds and disciplines, including neurologists, social scientists, artists, and policymakers.

About Kiersten Gallagher

As the Cancer Support Program Director, Kiersten fully believes that through the arts we can expand our perspectives and explore new fulfilling ways of being. She invites you to make our space your own refuge, to circumvent your daily routine to spark creativity, to take time for introspection, and draw outside the lines.

Registration for this program is now full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email kiersten@smithcenter.org.

with Brandel France de Bravo

Compassion Cultivation Training©, Thursday evenings (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) on Zoom from July 9 through August 27th. Would you like to start or deepen a meditation practice and also help support the Smith Center? One hundred percent of course fees will be donated to the Center. And for those experiencing financial difficulties, please don’t let course fees keep you away! Tuition reductions and waivers are available by emailing the instructor (see below).

Thanks to Covid-19 and its economic and emotional aftermath, we are facing challenges never experienced before, individually and as a society. By strengthening our natural capacity for compassion, empathy and kindness—for ourselves and others—we can become more resilient and better able to cope with the uncertainties of life during a pandemic.

Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT™) is an eight-week course developed over a decade ago by a team of contemplative scholars, clinical psychologists, and researchers at Stanford University. Many who have taken the course say that it has given them a sense of balance and allowed them to live with greater joy and intention. When we become more aware, open, and curious about the world and the people around us, we can tap into the compassion inside of us to connect with others and be gentler on ourselves.  Practicing compassion can alleviate our worries and fears so we can become powerful forces for good — in our relationships, families, workplaces, and communities.

Classes will be held weekly on Thursdays via Zoom (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) from July 9 through August 27th. Each class builds upon the previous but if you have to miss a class one week, that’s okay. Each week includes:

  • In-class guided meditations and online recordings for use at home
  • Group discussions and in-class exercises relevant to each week’s theme
  • Optional readings, videos, and practices for outside the classroom to enhance learning and support a daily meditation and compassion practice

Cost of course: $325 before June 25th, and $375 after June 25th. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE SMITH CENTER FOR HEALING AND THE ARTS. To request that the course fee be reduced or waived due to financial hardship, kindly email Brandel France de Bravo and let her know what amount is comfortable for you to pay. Write to: bravofrance@gmail.com

About Brandel France de Bravo

Brandel France de Bravo holds a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University and is a graduate of Warren Wilson’s MFA Program for Writers. She has two decades of experience researching and designing health interventions in the U.S. and abroad. She has run an HIV prevention program in Africa, designed harm reduction strategies for intravenous drug users in Central Asia, and developed materials to help cancer patients in the U.S. make informed decisions about their treatment. She is co-author of a parenting book influenced by the RIE philosophy of infant-toddler care and is a published poet and essayist. She studied Compassion Cultivation Training with founding faculty while a fellow at Stanford University and is honored to be a certified teacher of CCT.

http://www.brandelfrancedebravo.com/

Registration for this program is now full. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email kiersten@smithcenter.org.

with Brandel France de Bravo

Compassion Cultivation Training©, Thursday evenings (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) on Zoom from July 9 through August 27th. Would you like to start or deepen a meditation practice and also help support the Smith Center? One hundred percent of course fees will be donated to the Center. And for those experiencing financial difficulties, please don’t let course fees keep you away! Tuition reductions and waivers are available by emailing the instructor (see below).

Thanks to Covid-19 and its economic and emotional aftermath, we are facing challenges never experienced before, individually and as a society. By strengthening our natural capacity for compassion, empathy and kindness—for ourselves and others—we can become more resilient and better able to cope with the uncertainties of life during a pandemic.

Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT©) is an eight-week course developed over a decade ago by a team of contemplative scholars, clinical psychologists, and researchers at Stanford University. Many who have taken the course say that it has given them a sense of balance and allowed them to live with greater joy and intention. When we become more aware, open, and curious about the world and the people around us, we can tap into the compassion inside of us to connect with others and be gentler on ourselves.  Practicing compassion can alleviate our worries and fears so we can become powerful forces for good — in our relationships, families, workplaces, and communities.

Classes will be held weekly on Thursdays via Zoom (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) from July 9 through August 27th. Each class builds upon the previous but if you have to miss a class one week, that’s okay. Each week includes:

  • In-class guided meditations and online recordings for use at home
  • Group discussions and in-class exercises relevant to each week’s theme
  • Optional readings, videos, and practices for outside the classroom to enhance learning and support a daily meditation and compassion practice

Cost of course: $325 before July 1st. Beginning July 1st, regular tuition of $375 applies. ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE SMITH CENTER FOR HEALING AND THE ARTS. To request that the course fee be reduced or waived due to financial hardship, kindly email Brandel France de Bravo and let her know what amount is comfortable for you to pay. Write to: bravofrance@gmail.com

About Brandel France de Bravo

Brandel France de Bravo holds a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University and is a graduate of Warren Wilson’s MFA Program for Writers. She has two decades of experience researching and designing health interventions in the U.S. and abroad. She has run an HIV prevention program in Africa, designed harm reduction strategies for intravenous drug users in Central Asia, and developed materials to help cancer patients in the U.S. make informed decisions about their treatment. She is co-author of a parenting book influenced by the RIE philosophy of infant-toddler care and is a published poet and essayist. She studied Compassion Cultivation Training with founding faculty while a fellow at Stanford University and is honored to be a certified teacher of CCT.

http://www.brandelfrancedebravo.com/

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

with Carolina Mayorga

Day 1: The Fundamentals of Drawing (June 15, 1:00-2:30pm)
Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to learn about 2 fundamental concepts of drawing and 2D media. Observation, one of the most important elements in drawing, will be stressed through different assignments that include a variety of techniques and materials.
Materials: 
  • Paper of any kind (paper bags, printed paper, etc.)
  • Any kind of pen, pencil, or marker
  • A few items from your kitchen or closet that you would like to draw

Suggested Donation: $10

Click here to learn more about Day 2: The Fundamentals of Sculpture (June 22, 1:00-2:30pm)

Visit www.joanhisaokagallery.com to view Aceptar: Una Exposición Colectiva

About Carolina Mayorga

Carolina Mayorga, Colombian-born and naturalized American citizen, has exhibited her work nationally and internationally for the last 20 years. Her work is part of national and international collections and has been reviewed in publications in North and South America and Europe. Mayorga’s artwork addresses issues of social and political content. Recent exhibitions in Washington, DC include her first museum show at the Art Museum of the Americas, a performance/interactive sculpture at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden among others.

The artist lives in Washington D.C. https://carolinamayorga.com/

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

with MaryAnn Jones

Make a cup of your favorite tea and join a safe space to share our fears and bring awareness to possibilities.
Listen, share, ask—whatever feels good to you. xoxo
“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”
– Brene Brown

Thrive Tea Party will be offered weekly on Wednesdays through May 2020.

About MaryAnn Jones
MaryAnn is a Certified Functional Health Coach who helps clients change their habits and overcome obstacles to reaching their wellness potential. She is also a Smith Center trained Integrative Patient Navigator. You can find out more at thrivenaturally.com

with Grace Anderson

Undergoing cancer treatment usually means taking a step back from plants and produce for the sake of our immune systems. As survivors, getting back in touch with nature can aid our healing process both mentally and physically. During this program, we’ll take “getting back in touch” literally, digging our hands into the soil to pot a new plant, tasting fresh produce from the Kitchen Garden, and making our own tea blend. Join us at the U.S. Botanic Garden as we explore the healing power of plants!

Suggested Donation: $15

 

About Grace Anderson

Grace Anderson is an Education Specialist at the U.S. Botanic Garden and a survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Being able to work with plants and enjoy fresh produce after treatment was a vital part of her survivorship. She wanted to share that experience with other survivors and teamed up with the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts to start a program where survivors can celebrate heath through immersion in the world of plants.

This event has been postponed. Please check back for a new scheduled date.

with Chef Laura Pole

Are you or your loved one living with esophageal cancer and the eating challenges that come with it? Are you confused by all the dietary advice? If so, come join chef and oncology nurse, Laura Pole, and learn how to translate your diet prescription into tasty healthy food that you can actually enjoy eating. In addition to preparing and eating delicious food together, Chef Laura guarantees we’ll have fun!

 

About Laura Pole

Laura Pole, RN, MSN, comes with a diverse educational background including a Masters degree in nursing, chef certification, and professional music training. For over 20 years, she has been merging her careers as a health supportive chef, professional musician, oncology clinical nurse specialist, and a palliative care educator. Laura serves Smith Center in several ways: Director of Nourishment Education Programs, Director of Professional Trainings in Culinary Translation and Co-Creator/Coordinator of Patient Navigation Trainings. Laura is also on faculty for the nationally acclaimed Cancer-Fighting Kitchen workshops.

with Janice Levitt

REFRESH Whole Food Summer Cleanse

July 12 – 25

Take your knowledge about healthy eating and put it into practice in your own kitchen in this fully supported 14-day clean eating program emphasizing seasonal, natural, whole food cooking.

So many of you are trying to eat more wisely. It’s not easy to change habits: how you shop, what you habitually snack on, what’s in your fridge, what you prepare for dinner. Join us for this 14-day clean eating program that will help you put healthy habits into practice at home in your own kitchen.
You’ll prepare delicious, healthy meals with fresh, seasonal whole foods. You’ll increase your energy, improve your digestion, support your immune system, and feel good knowing you’re fueling yourself with nourishing food and extra self-care. Receive daily encouragement and support via email and a closed Facebook group from health coach Janice Levitt throughout the program, as well as recipes, guidebook, and a done-for-you shopping list so you know exactly what to do. Say goodbye to sugar cravings and discover how good you can feel with the healing power of whole foods. Learn more and register by July 4.

Fee: $129 

You can learn more about this program and register here: REFRESH Summer Whole Food Cleanse.

Please register for this program by Saturday, July 4, as all materials will be sent out on that day, giving you a week to read, shop, and prepare before the clean eating program begins on July 12. By registering through this special link, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Smith Center for Healing and the Arts.

About Janice Levitt

Janice Levitt, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, EML, CHHC, is passionate about helping people to feel vibrant and radiant through whole foods nutrition, a clean lifestyle, and radical self-care. She offers transformational individual and group health coaching programs and four seasonal cleanses, working holistically to support people body, mind, and spirit. She loves guiding people to listen to their body’s messages, find balance, increase energy, lose weight, reduce stress, improve digestion, cook delicious food, or manage chronic illness through making gradual nutrition and lifestyle changes. She also specializes in supporting with people with nutrition and lifestyle changes for thyroid and autoimmune conditions and hormone balance. Janice lives in Takoma Park, MD with her husband Dan and their organic garden. Her favorite room in the house is the kitchen!

with Donna Smith, JD

Compassion & Choices will host a week of events to highlight the passing of the Death with Dignity Act

DC Week of Compassion

Tuesday, February 18th – Smith Center Presentation and Discussion

Donna Smith, JD, will present her passionate work with Compassion and Choices DC to Smith Center participants. Donna’s talk will focus on options for end-of-life journey options. Food and drink will be provided and all are welcome!

Other Off-Site DC Week of Compassion Events:
Thursday, February 20th –  Busboys and Poets forum
Sunday, February 23rd – Compassion Sunday- We are asking faith leaders to take a moment and honor all those who have passed within their congregation.

 

Compassion & Choices improves care, expands options and empowers everyone to chart their end-of-life journey. We envision a society that affirms life and accepts the inevitability of death, embraces expanded options for compassionate dying, and empowers everyone to choose end-of-life care that reflects their values, priorities, and beliefs. Their programs include: End-of-life Planning, Community Outreach, Legal and Political Advocacy, and Access Campaigns

 

About Donna Smith, JD

Donna Smith is an accomplished professional with over twenty years of experience in political consulting, legislative advocacy, public affairs, policy and program management.

Donna was the Chief of Policy and Community Programs for eight years at the Maryland Department of Aging. She led a team of program managers that implemented aging statewide programs for the aging and their caregivers.  She was also detailed to work on the White House Conference on Aging in as a public relations specialist.

In 2014 she was a political consultant to the Donna Edwards Senatorial campaign where she focused on organizing women and seniors.

Donna has been employed by Compassion and Choices (C&C) for 4 years.  She is the National African American Director and the Director of Political advocacy for DC and Maryland.  In this capacity she led the campaign to pass end of Death with Dignity legislation in both the District of Columbia (the legislation passed in Feb. 2017) and Maryland, where she organized and engaged over 17,000 volunteers to help pass legislation and acted as a spokesperson on behalf of C&C.

A graduate of Tuskegee University and George Washington Law School, she has one son and resides in Laurel, Md.

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

with Chef Cathryn Pethick

Nourishing Ourselves in Harmony with Summer, the Season of Pitta: An Aryuveda-inspired Cooking Class with Chef Cathryn Pethick

The fundamental principle of Ayurveda is that our habits, lifestyle routines and dietary choices should ebb and flow with the seasons, in harmony with the cycles of Nature. Our bright, hot and humid summer climate is the time to stay cool and hydrated with appropriate food and preparation choices, and support our energy in being relaxed and grounded. The tastes Ayurveda recommends for summer are those foods that are naturally sweet, bitter and astringent, using fresh, local produce, and just lightly seasoning to allow their wonderful natural flavors to shine through.

Join us in creating a summer menu that features all the farmers’ markets best offerings at the height of the season! We will talk about Ayurveda, provide a dosha quiz for you, and demo some beautiful food and cooking technique for you to put to good use at home!

Suggested Donation: $25

About Cathryn Pethick

Cathryn Pethick, AYS, teaches yoga and Ayurveda in the Washington, DC metro area, and is a long-time professional chef. She is an Ayurveda Yoga Specialist through the Himalayan Institute, teaching the self-care basics of the traditional Indian science of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic cooking to groups and private clients. Since 1997, she has taught both traditional and gentle hatha yoga classes for adults and children, therapeutic classes for seniors and special-needs students, and restorative yoga. It is her deepest desire to offer tools that bring balance and well-being into the lives of those she touches.