From the Heart Presents: Voices of Color
Frederick County, February 20th, 2024- The contagious energy and rhythms could be felt and heard from the streets outside of Frederick Arts Council on Friday night as From the Heart: Creative expressions in mental wellness kicked off its first event, Voices of Color! Hosted by Transformative Arts Project, the night was filled with artistic performances from local Black artists in honor of Black History Month. Dr. Laura Sherwood, founder of TAP and an avid Mental Health Workgroup Member, did an exceptional job gathering the outstanding artist line up and organizing the event. Malcolm Furgol, Executive Director, and Summer McClellan, LHIP Mental Health Workgroup Coordinator of the Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County were sure to thank and recognize the workgroup members and partners involved in this impactful first event as the community opens its arms to our From the Heart campaign.
The evening commenced with Barbara Pinnock, Executive Director of the Community of Grace Organization, conducting a peaceful and rejuvenating sound bath. When asked about how art as a form of therapy impacts her mental health and wellness, Barbara shared, “Art provides me with a therapeutic outlet to reduce stress and anxiety, enhance emotional awareness and expression, and cultivate mindfulness- all of which contribute to finding joy and meaningful life experiences. The benefits I experience of using art lie in its ability to communicate deeply with another soul and through sound healing. This method serves as a non-verbal outlet for challenging emotions, providing a distinctive avenue for healing and personal development.”
Next, each audience member received their own drum or other percussion instrument to engage in an uplifting drum circle guided by Ayanna Gallant, owner of Aya Cultural Arts Studio of Frederick. Each participant smiled from ear to ear as they beat their drums and sang along with Ayanna.
The rest of the night spotlighted the following artists and their special, powerful performances:
Lanai Monroe: Opening Poem
Jaleesa “JayBaby” Cowan: Vocals
Ósun’s Rising: Poetry
Ramon: Percussion Performance
Renee: Spoken Word Poetry
Slow Mo the Poet: Poetry
Lavern Pennant: Vocals
Richard Treadwell-Williams: Spoken Word Poetry
Zariah Paris: Lip Sync and Dance
Delicious refreshments and food, including sweet lemonade, mini fried chicken and waffles, and delectable cheesecakes were served by the one and only Chef Trini at Taste of the Island. Participants could not stop raving about how amazing this food was! Another excellent contribution to the night was the musical energy supplied by DJ John Johnson from Benefactor Events.
Voices of Color was a unique and memorable experience that could be felt deep within each participant's heart. It was such a joy to watch and connect with the community by uplifting the voices and talents of one another. Participants went home that night recognizing the true healing power art has on our overall mental wellness, and hopefully feeling inspired to engage in their own creative expression.
About From the Heart- From the Heart: Creative expressions in mental wellness is a 10-month campaign sponsored by the Mental Health Workgroup of the Local Health Improvement Process. The mission is to foster an inclusive and compassionate community by embracing the power of art to challenge social stigmas surrounding mental health.
From the Heart’s ultimate goals are to break down barriers, eradicate the stigma attached to mental health issues, and cultivate a society that celebrates and values the healing potential of creative expression in promoting mental health and wellness.
If you are interested in learning more about the Mental Health Workgroup, please contact Summer McClellan at Summer@healthierfrederick.org