June 2023 Newsletter Root & Rise Hawaiʻi |
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Be sure to click "view entire message" at bottom for all updates! |
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"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including yourself." - Anne Lamott, writer/activist |
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Kōkua Hands, Kōkua Minds Pt. II |
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Thanks to the support of Vibrant Hawaiʻi, we hosted two more Kōkua Hands, Kōkua Minds events last month. Kōkua Hands, Kōkua Minds means “helping hands, helping minds.” These community gatherings combined ʻāina (earth, that which feeds) stewardship with mindfulness for the purpose of healing and mental health wellness. |
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At Punaluʻu Beach Park, we joined in a circle for an earth-centered grounding exercise and then picked up rubbish along the beach. The sun, sea salt, freshwater spring, and potluck made the day complete for reflection, connection, and healing. |
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At Pāpā Forest in South Kona, we planted an estimated 500 ʻahuʻawa seeds and 500 ʻōhiʻa lehua seeds, plus weeded the entire native nursery of maile, kōlea, alahe’e, loulu, kokiʻo keʻokeʻo, and more. The cultivation of these endemic and indigenous plants helps to restore our fragile yet resilient and unique island ecosystem. |
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Please reach out to us directly at info@rootandrisehawaii.org or 617-543-8065 to purchase plants, or visit K’s Greenhouse in Ocean View. 100% of proceeds go directly into our workshops for underserved communities. By caring for ʻāina, we care for ourselves and beyond. Land stewardship reminds us to tend to the needs of ourselves, our families, and our communities. It is also a practice in gratitude to our Earth, our home – a coping skill that can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. |
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A workshop developed and led by artist Deirdre Ichimura, “Personal Altars” provided an opportunity to create art that connected participants to symbols of personal healing, higher powers, or ancestral roots. Check out this video to hear the meaning behind Matthew's altar. |
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We would like to give a huge MAHALO to County Councilmember Michelle Galimba for supporting this workshop! |
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Sun-powered Creativity: Making Cyanotypes |
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With summer’s longer days and warmer weather (yes, there are seasons, even in Hawaiʻi!), we've been inspired to cultivate the power of the sun to create beautiful, easy-to-make cyanotypes, aka sun prints. What is so special about the cyanotype process? |
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It makes art and creativity accessible. To make a print, first you coat paper with a two-chemical solution, and then place a cut-out, or as we chose, ferns, leaves, flowers, and moss, on top of the coated paper.
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When exposed to UV rays, the items will generate a negative, light-colored image on the paper, and the surrounding areas change color, usually to a brilliant blue. (We also used salt and hydrogen peroxide to adjust the texture and coloration). Remove the items, wash the paper, and BAM! – instant art! You are an artist! For many people who don’t identify as artistic, cyanotype proves that anyone can make art. |
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It reminds us to let go of expectations, to be open to change, and to embrace the unexpected. You might be surprised at the colors, shapes, and textures that appear on your paper after exposure to sunlight and washing. We discuss how, as in life, letting go of expectations and allowing things to organically transform and unfold can lead to more satisfaction and fulfillment with less struggle.
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It gets us outside! Our cyanotype process gives us a dose of vitamin D and fresh air, and orients us to the sky, weather, seasons, and natural material – all healing and restorative practices.
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Mahalo to SKEA, Care Hawaiʻi’s crisis shelter, Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino, and Kona Paradise Clubhouse for providing the space and time to bring this art form to our community. And another mahalo to prolific artist, Lindy Hirst, for imparting her knowledge, skills, and spark to make this project possible. |
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Call to Artists! One Nation One Project - Hawaiʻi Artist Fellowship |
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Hawaiʻi Island-based artists are invited to apply for the One Nation One Project - Hawaiʻi Artist Fellowship, which will support up to 12 local artists to create art that enhances collective well-being, celebrates diverse stories of home and culture, and builds community resilience and social cohesion. Selected artists will become part of the national ONOP cohort and contribute to the overall goal of utilizing the arts to celebrate and uplift community well-being throughout the nation, centered around the idea: "no place like home." As local project lead, co-founder of Root & Rise Hawaiʻi, Aliza Gebin, is helping to coordinate the year-long fellowship. Key notes about the Fellowship: Artists of all backgrounds and artistic disciplines are invited to apply, including but not limited to storytelling, visual arts, music, theater, and traditional arts. Fellows will attend monthly gatherings to network with other artists and learn from industry experts about marketing, budgeting, maintaining wellness while working, and more. Artists will receive a quarterly stipend of $2,000 to support their participation and help bring their artistic visions to life. The fellowship culminates in July 2024 with an island-wide showcase, where artists will exhibit their work in communities across the island. To learn more about the application process and Fellowship, check out Vibrant Hawaiʻi’s newsletter HERE, and feel free to reach out via email at economy@vibranthawaii.org.
Deadline to apply is July 14, 2023. |
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What We Do and Who We Serve |
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In the past 6 months, Root & Rise has offered 22 workshops to over 100 Hawaiʻi Island adults, with dozens of repeat participants. Over half of participants report they experience current or previous mental health challenges. The other participants include social service providers, curious community members, and friends/family of those with mental health challenges. Over 86% identify as low-income, and many are living rurally and/or transitionally in crisis or supportive housing. 97% of participants report increased feelings of positivity, gratitude, belonging, peace, competency, and symptom management.
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You can make a difference! |
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Our reach would simply not be possible without your support. This is why we’re aiming to grow our monthly giving program, The Seed Circle. |
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Your Seed Circle monthly donation is vital in helping address and overcome barriers of access to integrative, engaging community-based mental health support like ours. By joining The Seed Circle, you can help offset transportation and supply costs, support compensation for facilitation, and enable outreach efforts.
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Prefer to make a one-time gift? Click below to give via PayPal, or find us @RootandRiseHawaii on Venmo. We are a 501(c)(3), so donations are tax-deductible! | | |
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Ian, who picked up a pocket-full of rubbish along the beach during our Kōkua Hands gathering, and jumped into the cyanotype process with full enthusiasm and creativity The Mental Health Kōkua crew – Derek, Cathy, Jennifer, Ben, Cindy, and Wayne – who show up with open hearts, open minds Sophie in San Francisco and Cody in Los Angeles for recent donations to The Seed Circle Local supporters Wayne and Susan for donations of craft supplies Horticultural therapist Juliette Authier for facilitating her cosmos planting workshop that helped participants set positive intentions and heal by using their hands Our māmaki tea fans – Meg, Ilene, Emily, Jan, and Kathlyn – and local business partners – Miranda’s Farms, Da Shark Shed, Wannabee Pono, Coffee Grinds, Mahina Mele Market, and Kahuku Gift Shop – whose purchases go directly into our programs
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