PATHWAYS PROFILE
Smith Center for Healing and the Arts: A Place for Healing, Community and Creativity
viding a space for individuals to explore their creativity while navigat- ing health and life challenges. From painting to writing and poetry, these workshops empower participants to channel their emotions, find catharsis, and gain a renewed sense of purpose.
BY LISA SIMMS BOOTH In the heart of Washington, DC, in the historic U Street corridor, lies a serene oasis dedicated to promoting healing, wellness, and creativity — Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts offers respite from the pressures of daily life, serving as a sanctuary for a wide range of in- dividuals, from cancer patients and survivors to caregivers and those seeking solace, healing, and personal transformation. Established in 1996 by Barbara Smith Coleman, the center was born out of her own experience as a caregiver and cancer survivor, and her conviction that creative expression can play a vital role in the healing process. At the heart of Smith Center’s work is the belief that healing is a natural and often deeply personal process that can encompass the en- tire spectrum of our lives — physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Healing is different for everyone. It may mean a return to wholeness or the discovery of hope; to others it is a sense that “I will be alright, no matter what happens.” It can be a return of a sense of joy in life or a renewed sense of purpose despite difficult circumstances. For others it can offer a new or renewed sense of belonging in the world, or of a sense that somehow everything makes sense. Healing vs Curing There is an important dialogue that is taking place in medicine about the distinction between curing and healing. Curing is success- ful medical treatment. It is what the physician hopes to bring to the patient. Healing is broader, and comes from within. It is the inner process through which a person becomes whole. Curing affects the ill - ness, while healing affects the experience of the illness. A person en - gaged in healing work can make a significant transformation in their quality of life, and that itself can sometimes have a positive effect on outcome. Smith Center for Healing and Arts’ staff and facilitators work to help create the space for healing through support, community, and providing tools and techniques that promote life affirming changes. The work is rooted in the belief that everyone harbors innate capaci- ties for healing. We believe healing is always possible even when cur- ing is not. Smith Center Programs Through a diverse range of programs and workshops, the center seeks to meet the whole person needs of the community — the phys- ical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The programs are free or low cost so that money is never a barrier to having access to much needed support and care. Smith Center’s programs are focused on healing and embody the arts and creativity, community and support. The programs include: • The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery , established in 2008, which embodies the deep belief in the healing power of expression through art. The Gallery, which hosts three to four public exhibitions a year, is dedicated to advancing an understanding of the power of the arts to unite, teach, build community, and heal. In addition to the DC location, a second location of the gallery is located at the Inova Schar Cancer Center in Fairfax, VA. [Image: SmithCtrGallery] • The Artist in Residence (AIR) program provides one-on-one art and creativity experiences, group classes, and musical performanc- es for patients, their families, and staff, in partnership with multiple cancer treatment centers and hospitals across the D.C. Metro Area. • In addition to the Gallery and the AIR program, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts offers an array of art-based workshops , pro-
• Health and Wellness: Smith Center for Healing and the Arts of- fers a wealth of integrative healing programs including mindfulness and meditation, healthy cooking, Yoga and movement, and stress re- duction classes, and creativity workshops. These programs are open to the public and help people cultivate resilience, manage stress, reduce anxiety, and nourish the body for holistic well-being.
• Cancer Support Programs: Recognizing the unique challenges faced by cancer patients and survivors, the Smith Center offers tai - lored programs that address the emotional and psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis. We provide professionally facilitated support groups, peer-led healing circles, retreats, and individual patient nav- igation. Through shared experiences and open dialogue, participants find camaraderie, empathy, and a sense of belonging. For twenty-seven years, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts has stood as a beacon of hope and support in the heart of Washington, D.C. Through its dedication to the transformative power of creativity and community, the center has become a sanctuary for those seeking healing, renewal, and personal growth. As the world continues to rec- ognize the vital role of the arts and community for overall well-being, the Smith Center’s legacy continues to shine and we hope to contin - ue to serve the DC area and beyond for years to come. For more in - formation visit www.smithcenter.org or call 202-483-8600.
Lisa Simms Booth is the Executive Director at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts. She also serves on the Board of Directors for both National Organiza- tion for Arts in Health and Commonweal.
PATHWAYS—Fall 23—9
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