“The artist's role is to raise the consciousness of the people. To make them understand life, the world and themselves more completely. That's how I see it. Otherwise, I don't know why you do it.” - Amiri Baraka
When it comes to health education, there are few options and resources in the area where Black and Brown people reside.. The Art Inspired Healing Collective is set out to make sure there are spaces, forums, and places for healing within all communities, and generally, among Black and Indigenous people. There is a stigma when it comes to facing and speaking out about trauma and experiences that have led to physical or mental illness and that causes mental and physical harm. Art Inspired Healing has been created to encourage authenticity and vulnerability within a safe environment to ultimately create a release of the past to enable each individual to move forward with healing into a purpose for themselves and for the greater good. As a collective of the same ethnic background, and as members of the creative community, we have recognized an increase in mental and physical illnesses and a lack of forums represented to positively influence this aspect of our community. We will change that one word, one dance, one drawing, one paint brush stroke, and one beat at a time.