REFLECTIONS

The presenters and facilitators at the training sessions remained a consistent group. Their presentations were well prepared, but their sense of camaraderie ensured a comfortable grace if and when last-minute changes or substitutions needed to be made. Over time, the facilitators acted as a unified group in response to new concerns and situations. As the number of programs intensified, and as AEN began to partner with other cities, they worked to identify new facilitators who could add relevant local information and comfortably add to the sense of community.

“The work has gone beyond selfcare; so many are struggling with toxic environments, racism, and unhealthy relationships. The work has provided strategies to help build awareness, encourage relationships, and create affirmations in the spoken word, the written word, and other modalities (kinesthetic/dance, visual, sound) that work, even for artists and non-artists. We built a community (a la Purple’s