Message from Artistic Director, Barbara Bridges:
Some days it is a firehose of toxic nonsense. ACW prides itself on paying attention to the positive. We are serving a wide spectrum of neuro-divergent, young and old, creatives from every artform – all residents of Minnesota. We are also committed to building community amongst all the members and leaders of ACW.
Challenge:
- Name one thing you do for fun that is not your job.
- Name one thing you do every day for your body.
- Name one thing you do every day to keep your synapses snapping
I fail this challenge most every day. We are very successful at tending other people’s body, mind and spirits but we do not take care of ourselves. In an attempt to serve all ACW members, we are organizing an initiative called ACW Health Initiative: Body, Mind and Spirit. The purpose is to gather and share strategies focused on how we can meet the 3 point challenge above.
Post Jillian Collins jillian@witandwildflowers.com if you are interested.
It will be lead by Sandra Reardon, ACW Board Member and LICSW Psychotherapist
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Statement from Sandra
An ACW Wellness Initiative: Body, Mind & Spirit
Our goal is to create a wellness initiative that genuinely supports the people who make this organization special. We would love to understand what would be most meaningful and helpful for you in the realms of body, mind and spirit for you within ACW.
You all do mission driven work that takes time, emotional investments, passion, limited resources, boundary challenges, a balance of creativity and ACW boundaries, etc and a home life. Therefore we would like to know from you what kinds of mental health resources would be helpful for you? What would help you maintain your passion and creativity for this work?
*Wellness Initiative Goal: Lift each other up, find out what artists need, provide free group/individual sessions and how artist’s want the ACW environment to look like.
- What helps you feel like you are connected to the people and members of ACW ?
- What energizes you as a member of ACW ? Explain:
- What mental health resources have you found to be helpful in past organizations you have been a part of ?
- Do you ever feel overwhelmed or burned out? Explain
- If we could offer one Wellness health resource what would you suggest ?
- What barriers to finding wellness resources have gotten in the way for you ?
- Do you ever feel like its difficult to ask for help?
- How can we create a safe and supportive space for vulnerable conversations ?
- How can we create a space for authentic connections?
- How important is ART to your personal wellness?
These are just a few questions we can talk about to help start our initiative. Every member of ACW is as important as the next. Lets create a wellness initiative that everyone can benefit from.
Holding both gratitude and reality, appreciating what is good while honestly acknowledging what is difficult.
Thank you for your participation, we appreciate you!
Image created by Lin Boemer.