Elizabeth is an AWBW facilitator and the founder of Students Turn 4 Greatness in Northern California, which partners with local agencies to provide community outreach and educational services to people affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, teen dating violence, incarceration, and more. The addition of healing art workshops into their programming has made a great impact on all involved.

Elizabeth shares, “The workshops I’ve been doing in our small, rural community have grown exponentially because people not only enjoy attending, but also grow because of them… People are willing to reveal themselves through art in a variety of ways when they feel safe and are able to express themselves with freedom.… I see a piece of their heart, their story, their lives more than if I just talked with them daily.”

The above image was created by a woman in a trauma support group facilitated by Elizabeth. Describing her artwork, the participant shared, “When life is taking me down like quicksand I can overcome it with strength like a tree, strong and vibrant.” After the workshop, the participant wrote, “I believe there is much healing that comes from creating. I can gain strength and know I’m loved when I look at my creation each day.”

By facilitating workshops, Elizabeth has grown too. “The time, understanding, planning, compassion, and patience that it takes to be a facilitator has helped me grow not only as a facilitator, and offer better workshops, its helped me be a better, more well-rounded human as a whole,” she says.