POEM Rise hosted its educational and community-building event series, Let’s Talk About It, on Friday, March 8, for a sold-out crowd at Zora’s House.
With a focus on creative wellness, the event explored cost-effective strategies for coping with mental health challenges through self-expression, specifically guided journaling and therapeutic art.
Let’s Talk About It showcased the talents of POEM Rise Coordinators Bri Jackson and Tolu Schneider, who are both creatives and former teachers.
Tolu led the group through an art exercise that involved painting based on the Rise logo. She discussed the ways that creating art can parallel navigating and coping through life, and she encouraged them to trust themselves and admire the big picture rather than focusing on the little flaws.
“It was wonderful to see people who were nervous to paint for the first time admire their beautiful works of art at the end,” Tolu said.
Recognizing that journaling can be therapeutic and helpful for getting thoughts in order, Bri led a journaling activity with three writing prompts: (1) A dated goal for 2024; (2) A letter to their old selves expressing feelings of the life they thought they would have; and (3) one word that captures how they feel about moving forward in their healing journey.
“I really wanted the mothers to prioritize setting goals for themselves as it’s difficult to find your independence after having children,” Bri said. “The writing activity allowed them to look forward to their dreams and hold themselves accountable in accomplishing those dreams.”
Bri’s 13-year-old daughter volunteered at the event and got to see her mom in action.
Tolu said that, overall, the event was moving and healing.
“Combining Bri’s thought-provoking and impactful journey prompts with my creative art workshop struck a wonderful balance. The event was a success, and we heard from several participants that they would love to attend another one.”
Celebrating five years this year, POEM Rise provides a peer support phone line, care navigation including a network of providers of color, support groups, community engagement, and awareness and educational opportunities exclusively for and by Black moms and birthing persons.
If you would like to learn more about POEM Rise or get involved, please visit our website.
