According to Family Violence Prevention Service in Bexar County, one in three girls will experience domestic violence by the time they turn 18. That’s compared to one in five nationally. The National Library of Medicine reports that domestic violence affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. every year under a variety of abuses, including physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological.
Healing from domestic violence comes in many forms of therapy. This year, Northwest Vista College will help its college community and campus guests take a more holistic approach to healing.
On Tuesday, Oct. 24, starting at 9:30 a.m., NVC will welcome representatives from the Peace Center’s Compassionate USA project, who will discuss collective trauma and healing. NVC’s Denise Tolan will share how writing can aid the healing process, and artist Diana Kersey will talk about how art can be transformative.
Below are more details about each of the events. A counselor will be on-site at each time should students need to speak to someone. Additionally, information on how to access counseling services will be available for employees.
Compassionate USA/San Antonio Peace Center – 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: The discussion will connect to the theme of collective trauma and collective healing. The Compassionate USA campaign will be discussed as a resource and some promotional items from Compassion USA will be available to students. Location: Palmetto Center for the Arts Theater
Author Shares Writing as Healing – 12:30 – 1:45 pm: Denise Tolan will read from her memoir, “Italian Blood.” The book is a series of stories about her family, followed by a Q&A and book signing. There will be a raffle for attendees to have a chance to win the book. Attendees will also have an opportunity to honor someone who experienced domestic/dating/partner violence or was lost due to violence by writing their name on a purple ribbon and tying it to the bridge between Redbud Learning Center and Live Oak Hall. NVC Student Life will provide pizza for students and the NVC President’s office will provide dessert and drinks. Location: Live Oak Hall Outdoor Classroom
Healing with Art – 3 pm to 4:15 pm – This portion of the event is a community art project. Participants will have an opportunity to write about their experience with trauma on rice paper and then place the paper inside a ceramic vase. The vase will be placed in the kiln, the rice paper will burn and the ashes will become part of the vases. The session will show how art can be transformative and help demonstrate that there can also be beauty from trauma. The vases can be displayed on campus. Location: Palmetto Center for the Arts Theater
