The EVMS Arts for Optimal Health Program is hosted by the Graduate Art Therapy and Counseling Program in the EVMS School of Health Professions. The new program’s mission is to bring art therapy and arts engagement services to the community for wellness, healing and growth, supported through partnerships for education, research and patient care.
First and Second-year students with Program Director, Dr. Mary Roberts, at an internship with Norfolk Street Choir Project during the fall 2020.
Current Projects:
EVMS Arts for Optimal Health will host Visual Conversations: Community Resilience over Violence in four cities in South Hampton Roads. The Hope and Healing grant provided by UWSHR was in response to the November 22, 2022 mass shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake. EVMS AOHP is one of 16 organizations to receive grant funding.
This project, developed by Dr. Mary Roberts in the Art Therapy and Counseling, MS program targets prevention in our community through education and expressive arts workshops. These workshops are free and open to individuals (14 and older). The workshops begin with a 30-minute presentation about topics related to Gun Violence, Trauma Informed Care, Mentoring Youth, and Fostering Resiliency. Topics will be presented by EVMS Master of Public Health and EVMS Art Therapy and Counseling faculty. Following each presentation, participants will reflect through art making and discussion facilitated by an art therapist.
Dinner will be provided and workshops will take place 5:15-8:00pm at the following locations:
Chesapeake
Indian River Community Center
Mondays, July 17, 24, 31 and August 7
Norfolk
Slover Library
Tuesdays, August 29, September 5, 12, 26
Virginia Beach
Virginia MOCA
Thursdays, February 15, 22, 29 and March 14
Registration is required and space is limited to 30 participants.
Contact artthrpy@evms.edu for more information, or register here https://evms.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NTRIJfAHd17VL8
This project is made possible by the United Way of South Hampton Roads Hope and Healing Grant
Racism is a Public Health Crisis: We Must A.R.T. (Articulate, Review and Tackle) is a collaborative community arts workshop series developed by NSU and EVMS faculty to support public awareness of the impact of racism on the health and wellbeing of communities of color. This workshop series is specifically designed for healthcare professionals who are critical to ensuring equity in healthcare. Each workshop will include a 30-minute presentation followed by reflective art-making facilitated by an art therapist. Topics will include the impact of racism on (1) stress, (2) obesity, and (3) cardiovascular disease & hypertension among the African American community. The A.R.T. project is made possible by the Joint School of Public Health Initiative, Center for Excellence in Minority Health Disparities and the Center for Public Health Initiatives at NSU.
Sessions are open to students as well community health professionals and will be held at EVMS Lester Hall Room 104S, 6:00pm-8:30pm.
Free to attend and food is provided.
November 6th Stress as a Result of Racism presented by Dr. Ernestine A.W. Duncan
November 13th Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension as a Result of Racism presented by Dr. Keith Newby
November 20th Obesity as a Result of Racism presented by Dr. Khaliah I. Wilson
Register at: https://evms.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_38iGpyOYWH8ZzkW