Community Collaborations

There’s power in community.

Grounded Gem is all about partnering with community organizations. Want to bring therapeutic art experiences to your organization? All experiences are facilitated by a trained art therapist to increase self-awareness, healing, and motivation. Reach out and let’s curate the right experience for your group!

Our Work in Action

Self-Care Workshops

Does your team work hard? Do you worry about them receiving quality help and motivation? Don’t just offer another inservice on self-care. Try something a little different this time—an Art Therapy Experiential, a therapeutic art-making experience facilitated by a trained art therapist! These experiences, specifically tailored to your group’s needs, will bring self-awareness and support to your team, and allow them the opportunity to open up and share as much as they are ready to.

WINGS Collective

WINGS Collective is a community organization that serves school-age youth who have unique learning needs and who benefit from specialized support. The group infuses inquiry-based learning, direct teaching, and in-the-moment academic, language, executive function, and social supports in its programs. Grounded Gem facilitated a therapeutic art experience to inaugurate the group’s new space. Members of the group shared their thoughts and feelings about the new space they were welcoming, as well as memories of the group, then—guided by the art therapist—captured that moment on canvas. These resulting artworks now welcome visitors when they visit the WINGS Collective’s space.

Exceptional Artists Foundation

Exceptional Artists Foundation was formed to empower the disabled population by providing individuals the tools, support, and outlet to live an expressive, passionate, purposeful, and happy life. To accomplish that goal, the organization creates events and initiatives to draw awareness about the Exceptional Artists’ talents, develop a marketplace to sell their artwork to foster independence, and fund arts education, therapy, and training programs. Grounded Gem hosted a vendor booth at an Exceptional Artists community event to provide attendees with a therapeutic art experience, where participants engaged in multi-sensory art.

Arts In Bushwick

Arts In Bushwick is a visual and performing arts platform prioritizing visibility, resources, and support to Bushwick artists and Brooklyn-native artists of color from all mediums of visual art, music, and performing arts. The group’s responsibility is to respect the cultural relevance and diversity of its community and to hold members accountable while maintaining social responsibility for the group’s impact in the neighborhoods it serves.

Grounded Gem participated in a social action program of Arts In Bushwick, where the organization invited community members to come and share their thoughts and emotions about the gentrification happening in the Bushwick neighborhood. A tree, constructed out of chickenwire, stood center, and community members were invited to write their feelings on paper, then tie these notes to the tree. The experience allowed for many perspectives around gentrification and family displacement to be brought together in a space that allowed community members to express themselves safely. The activity was a very healing process for the community.