By Habeshas and for Habeshas
We believe our strength as a community is in the beauty of our culture. Culturally specific and culturally aware, at our workshops we eat injera as a family, have discussions over bun[a] and shai[hee] as we enjoy the aroma of etan flowing through the air.
¨Before the workshop I didn’t cry, it surprised me that I cried [there], it was a non-judgemental space and each time one person opened up, it made me feel comfortable.¨
Community Programs
At Art + Health, we have pivoted our youth programming to be accessible online and as well as on the ground support addressing food insecurity among our seniors, families with young children and anyone else in need.
Kitchen Table Talks (KTT)
Our signature workshop series, each workshop is custom designed from an arts-based approach in a way that engages and speaks to our youth.
KTT is a series of mental health workshops that brings together Habesha youth and elders in conversations about mental health & wellness, over injera. It is our goal to inspire dialogue on a subject that has been silenced in our community for generations.
Previous topics we have discussed include:
- Grief: what grief looks like after the 40 days
- Depression: seasonal depression, situational depression & postpartum depression
- Culture & Identity
- Finances & Anxiety
Mahabre *New
It’s a family ting! Join us for Mahabre, a family style check-in and conversation as we share the best and the difficult of what is happening in our world. Click here to RSVP to the next one.
Surviving COVID *New
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for our weekly videos on topics you’ve requested help with.
Topics to date include: Diet and Nutrition, Addiction and Harm Reduction, Movement and Exercise, with more to come.
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How It Works
There are six key pieces to our events:
1. Opening
Facilitators will open the event by sharing how mental health has impacted their lives;
2. Practitioner Session
A mental health practitioner will lead a session on the mental health focus of that event;
3. Group Discussion
Participants will eat injera on shared cultural plates, while eating, small group discussions, moderated by therapists and/or social workers, and will be guided by a treasure chest of probing questions to inspire dialogue on the topic and that if triggered, each table had the expertise to support our participants;
4. Open Floor
After lunch we will open the floor for participants to speak to the entire room, share about themselves or ask questions;
5. Share Information
Share information on key resources available;
6. Evaluations and Surverys
Post-it evaluations and surveys; conduct evaluations to identify unmet needs, areas for improvement and need further examination
Through partnerships with community health organizations (like Taibu Community Health Center), mental health practitioners, and cultural associations, we are working collaboratively within the Ethiopian & Eritrean community to start a conversation, dispel myths, and build a healthier, stronger and medically informed community.
It is our hope to one day deliver these workshops in churches, mosques, temples and cultural community centers. Wherever you are, we want to come to you!
Learn more about Art + Health.
