2013 to 2019

Outreach/Advocacy and Community Service Programs developed by NorCATA since 2013. Robin Valicenti, as Legislative Affairs Director, began advocacy for Legislative Committee outreach and community service. All projects were conducted from a trauma-informed care framework.

2013 Outreach/Advocacy and Community Service project

Art at the State Capitol- Bret Harte Middle School in Oakland, CA and NorCATA: Heroes of Hope exhibit at the CA State Capitol 3^rd floor Gallery for Children’s Art Exhibit to honor  2013 SAMHSA Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day https://www.samhsa.gov/childrens-awareness-day and provide art therapy advocacy, outreach and community service.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is a key strategy of
the Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign, which is part of
the Public Awareness and Support Strategic Initiative by the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services. In 2013, Awareness Day will be
held on Thursday, May 9. The effort seeks to raise awareness about the
importance of children's mental health and that positive mental health
is essential to a child's healthy development from birth.

Weekly after school art therapy groups to explore the children’s heroes and hope through artistic expression with mixed media. Robin made weekly trips to Oakland from El Dorado Hills, CA (at her own expense) to lead the art therapy weekly after school groups for 8 weeks.  Parental permission slips were obtained for the exhibition of their child’s artwork. The project was supported by Assembly person Rob Bonta of the 18^th district, the district which represents Bret Harte Middle School.

The initial project design involved bussing students from Bret Harte Middle School to the CA State Capitol Gallery to view their artwork and meet their legislators. Funds for the transportation (bus, over $1,000) were not raised so the students were shown photographs from the exhibit. Kelsey Acevedo provided closure for this project with the students. Artwork was returned to the students after the exhibit was taken down.

Kelsey Acevedo, NorCATA president, Staff at Bret Harte Middle School 

Robin Valicenti, NorCATA legislative affairs director, community service volunteer.

 

 

 

 

April 20, 2013

FROM: Assemblymember Rob Bonta

SUBJECT:  Heroes of Hope Art Exhibit

Dear students and faculty of Bret Harte Middle School,

I am proud to partner with your school for the Heroes of Hope Art Exhibit. This exhibit is scheduled be on display on the 3^rd floor of the Capitol building in early May.

This effort seeks to boost the self-esteem of our children by nurturing a strong sense of pride in their community. The participants are encouraged to take inspiration from members of their own neighborhood for actions of courage and determination to better the lives of others. 

The exhibit is part of a campaign for Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 5-11, 2013) which encompasses Awareness Day (May 9, 2013). This campaign seeks to emphasize the importance of tending to your mental health, just as we tend to our physical health.

Empowering our children is my top priority, and I am grateful to be involved in this effort.

If you have any questions please contact Amy Alley, at 916-319-2018.

Thank you,

Rob Bonta, AD 18

2014 NorCATA Outreach/Advocacy and Community Service project

Art at the State Capitol Project/ Bret Harte Middle School in Oakland, CA and NorCATA

Second year for the project.  

The art gallery at the state capitol was not available so the exhibit was hung at the Elihu M, Harris California State Office Building in Oakland. The topic the 2014 project was Peer to Peer Relationships in Times of Need. The project was supportive of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day May 8, 2014. The exhibit was up for two months.

Exhibit to honor  2014 SAMHSA Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day https://www.samhsa.gov/childrens-awareness-day and provide art therapy advocacy, outreach and community service.National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is a key strategy of the Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign, which is part of the Public Awareness and Support Strategic Initiative by the SubstanceAbuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S.Department of Health & Human Services

Weekly after school art therapy groups were offered by Emily Larkin to explore the children’s concept of peer to peer relationships in times of need through artistic expression with mixed media. Emily made weekly trips to Oakland to lead the art therapy weekly after school groups. Parental permission slips were obtained for the exhibition of their child’s artwork. Students were able to take a field trip to view their artwork and meet their elected officials at the State Office Building.

It should be noted that NorCATA approved financial support for Emily’s transportation to Bret Harte Middle School. There was a reception at Book & Job Gallery in San Francisco on May 8, 2014

Kelsey Acevedo, NorCATA President 

Emily Larkin NorCATA board member. Led the art therapy groups during the after-school program

Barbara Petterson, MS, MA, MFT NorCATA board member.  Reception and exhibition organization.

2016 NorCATA Outreach/Advocacy and Community Service project

Art at the State Capitol exhibit at the CA State Capitol 3^rd floor Gallery for Children’s Art.  Sari Pace, ATR-BC, NorCATA President, and Lisa Manthe, ATR-BC from New Directions School in Santa Rosa, CA were the art therapists who led this project. Robin Valicenti ATR-BC coordinated with the State Capitol office of Joint Rules and mentored Sari regarding the work with the Capitol.

Exhibit to honor  2016 SAMHSA Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day https://www.samhsa.gov/childrens-awareness-day and provide art therapy advocacy, outreach and community service.

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is a key strategy of
the Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign, which is part of
the Public Awareness and Support Strategic Initiative by the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S.
Department of Health & Human Services

NorCATA Supports Adolescent Art Exhibit at the State Capitol by Sari Pace:

In honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 7, 2017, NorCATA continued an annual tradition of supporting different schools with an art exhibit at the State Capitol in Sacramento, CA. This year we worked with a Northern California non-public school that has integrated trauma-informed education with specialized mental health treatment. The school provides services to adolescents in Sonoma and outlying counties.  

The students created artwork based on “What is unheard: An amplification of the adolescent experience of mental health.” The art exhibit was displayed in the State Capitol Building from May 5-19, 2017.An artist’s statement at the show invited the audience to send both narrative and art responses to the school through traditional and digital means. On May 9^th, the students took a field trip to the Capitol to witness their art exhibit and take a tour. They had an opportunity to meet Assembly member Marc Levine from their school’s district to discuss their lived experiences and to share their voices.

NorCATA set up a fundraiser with the help of AATA to raise money for art materials and transportation from the school. We ended up raising about $1500 to support sending the students to witness their show! It’s our hope to find ways to support our community and to help raise awareness for different causes. Let us know if you have an idea of how NorCATA can support art therapy in your community.

2018 Art at the State Capitol

NorCATA Outreach/Advocacy and Community Service project

Art at the State Capitol exhibit at the CA State Capitol 3^rd floor Gallery for Children’s Art.  Oakridge High School, El Dorado Hills, CA, participated in this project was led by Robin Valicenti, ATR-BC. The title of the exhibit was “Considerations for Mental Health”.

This was an outreach community service program and exhibit to honor  2018 SAMHSA Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day https://www.samhsa.gov/childrens-awareness-day and provide art therapy advocacy, outreach and community service. . National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is a key strategy ofthe Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign, which is part of the Public Awareness and Support Strategic Initiative by the SubstanceAbuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 

This project was highlighted in AATA’s Art Therapy Today blog:

“AATA’s Chapters often take the opportunity to educate their legislatures on art therapy and the importance of access to diverse mental health treatment options.  This year, the Northern California Art Therapy Association (NorCATA) partnered with Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, CA to raise awareness for children’s mental health.  The exhibit, “Considerations for Mental Health” showcased student artwork in the Sacramento State Capitol from May 8-21. The students had the opportunity to visit their legislators and view their exhibit. They presented several group-created paintings as gifts to their legislators.” AATA also added the link to our digital virtual gallery of the student’s artwork along with pictures of the exhibit.

Robin Valicenti, ATR-BC worked with students to explore mental health, stigma, visibility, equality, gun violence, emotional expression and art. The students were part of the honors art program and worked in the school’s art studio and in their homes to create art pieces expressive of mental health considerations. It must be noted that the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School occurred on February 14, 2018, two months before this project began and many students shared that they were struggling with self-expression and trust and helplessness. Students over 18 years of age or parents of minor students signed permission slips for the students to exhibit their artwork at the State Capitol. 

The students were able to take a school sponsored field trip to the gallery at the Capitol as well as the offices of their state assemblyperson and state senator (Kevin Kiley and Ted Gains respectively). The students were invited to the legislative offices. The school principle and a handful of teachers joined the field trip. The students made several pieces of group art to donate to their legislative representatives. NorCATA via board member Devora Weinapple, MFT, ATR-BC was able to create a digital and virtual art gallery for the student artwork to be exhibited and reach a larger audience.

2018

Sacramento Women’s March and the Venus in Words Project outreach, advocacy and community service

The NorCATA board voted on December 10, 2018 to purchase a table at the 2018 Women’s March in Sacramento for the purpose of art therapy outreach, advocacy and community service. This march was on the heels of the newly recognized Me Too movement and many women and men in the community were hurting. 36,000 people attended the Women’s March in Sacramento.

Two non-partisan healing projects were offered:

1.  A mini mandala circle group-creation project to promote togetherness, relaxation, expression, community, interaction and empowerment. NorCATA had done this project during a community building drawing excursion on the Land’s End Trail along the San Francisco coast and found it successful and inclusive. Sharpie markers and 1,200 precut watercolor grade paper circles were provided. Glue dots were used to connect the individual circles to allow the individual parts to become a whole.

2. The Venus in Words Project. This project involved a group effort to fill two large wire armature sculptures that were secured to large clothing mannequins that were missing one or two arms (hence the Venus reference)  with words emblematic of the day, the time, the place and the feelings of the marchers, It was suggested that people put words out into the universe to promote healing, balance and love. Sharpie markers, pre-cut paper circles, precut strips of multi-color fabric, safety pins and some mixed soft media were offered at the NorCATA table. We had supplies for 1,200 people.

NorCATA purchased a professional banner to hang during this event and events going forward.

Board member Devora Weinapple, MFT, ATR-BC, purchased the table, helped organize the community service project and arranged material and brochures in boxes to be used for the march. Board member Deborah Sharpe, ATR-BC, collected supplies from storage and passed them to board member Megan Thomas. Both Deborah and Devora were unable to attend the March. Robin Valicenti, ATR-BC, cut circles, made sculptures, cut fabric strips and transported the large armatures to the Capitol. Both Megan and Robin worked the tables for the duration of the 8+ hour event. Sculptures were exhibited at the next NorCATA conference. SoCalATA worked alongside us in the south.

Art Therapist Megan Thomas worked at the table along with Robin Valicenti ATR-BC and managed the art making and community outreach. Both women were instrumental in advocating for Art Therapy and art making. People asked, “which side are you on?” to which the response was  “we are not on any side except the side of the human”.

2019  Camp Fire community service health festival and groups