Your Custom Text Here
Our Expressive Arts program continues to bring community, music, and art to clients in our Residential Houses, though they now happen virtually. Despite the virtual format, clients continue to engage in the workshops and express their thoughts and feelings through their art. Please enjoy these recent works of art.
Caminar is so grateful to be a recent beneficiary of the Housing Industry Foundation’s (HIF) latest community-based renovation project.
HIF worked with industry partner and long-time supporter, BellaVista Landscape Services, who completed a full renovation of Caminar’s outdoor garden and reflection space, donating all labor, design, and materials.
“By leveraging the generous support of our partners in the Multifamily Apartment Industry, HIF is able to help improve the quality of life and services for the clients of Caminar while covering 100% the project costs which allows their staff to focus its resources on where its needed most: programming and client support,” said HIF Executive Director, Steve Sullivan
The team transformed our garden area into a lovely location for our staff and clients. When faced with stress, frustration, and a variety of symptoms of mental illness, it is quiet environments that bring us back to our true selves and help to create a space from those issues to know there are alternatives, options, and reasons to hope.
“Because of HIF, clients who are recovering from a mental health crisis will have a beautifully updated outdoor space to use as they heal. The safe and serene garden and reflection area will benefit our clients as they work to decrease their symptoms, improve their health, and return to their daily lives and community,” said Caminar CEO Mark Cloutier.
Thank you to HIF and BellaVista Landscape Services!
Art is restoration: the idea is to repair the damages that are inflicted in life, to make something that is fragmented
– which is what fear and anxiety do to a person – into something whole.– Louise Bourgeois, artist
Amazing works of restorative art are created by participants in our Expressive Arts program. The program, made possible by the generous support of Mills-Peninsula Health Services, brings world-renowned photographer Michael Collopy and musician Maikel Garcia to our residential homes for weekly workshops. In the workshops, participants are encouraged to use different art media to express their feelings. Calming music, conversation, and supportive staff and students create a warm, encouraging environment for all to work on wellness while creating lovely art.
Please enjoy this recent collection of work by a number of different artists in our program.
Do you know someone like Michael? Someone who struggles with his mental health and lives on the margins, alone and without hope?
In his 20s, Michael began to struggle with mental illness. A doctor misdiagnosed his condition, leading to treatments that made Michael feel worse. He turned to self-medication. Over the years, relationships with family and friends frayed and fell away. Living on the margins, often homeless, he was alone and without hope.
Michael’s journey with Caminar began at one of our crisis residential treatment programs. His life began to change with a correct diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. At last, receiving appropriate treatment and care, Michael’s physical and mental health improved. With new hope, he committed to the work of recovery.
Michael’s journey took him from constant crisis to independence. His Caminar team helped him secure a job and a safe place to live. He’s doing the work to keep moving forward. He tells us he feels stronger than ever.
One in five of our neighbors will experience mental illness. Resilience is possible with quality care and compassion.
We are so proud of Michael and his hard work, dedication, and commitment to healthy living. And, Michael's story isn't a rarity. Many people like Michael have become more resilient, moved from crisis to independence, and are enjoying healthier, fuller lives.
We are pleased to share the results of client satisfaction surveys from 2015-2016. These numbers show how dedicated our staff has been in progressing Caminar's mission, which is to help people with disabilities live in the community with dignity and independence.
