Our short term goal consists of a campaign of fund-raising events over the course of the next year to raise money to contribute to New River Valley Community Services to be dispersed to provide additional funding for mental health services for the community, to include first responders, and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program. The CIT Program consists of officer training, dispatcher training, and community collaboration to better identify and respond to mental health-related crises. Our long term goal is to develop and operate a Center for Integrated Arts which will consist of a combination of traditional fine and performing arts, as well as, healing and meditative art. The idea is to create a multi use space that can be used to develop youth community arts programs as a means of wellness and prevention to promote healthy emotional and psychological states and to expand our understanding of the cultural and human condition in a world that is quickly out pacing itself.
The mission of the Center for Integrated Arts is to advance public awareness and increase opportunities for all youth of our community to experience the wellness and healing benefits of expressive arts and therapies. Group and Individual Programs will be person-centered and accommodate special needs. The center may incorporate and integrate existing programs and organizations that are in alignment with or mission, as well as, offer new programs that will allow for organic growth a greater understanding of sustainable living in the 21st century and beyond. Opportunities will include, but not be limited to: art and music therapies, fine arts education and instruction, performing arts, media arts, healing arts, physical arts, meditative arts, dramas, dance and musical performances, exhibits, art and mentoring programs. Our origin: The events that transpired on the campus of Virginia Tech the morning of April 16th, 2007 sent shockwaves though the New River Valley, echoing across the globe, and reverberated through every race, color, creed, and socioeconomic classes. This tragedy has affected us all. Former Virginia Tech student athlete, Tommy Edwards, responded by processing emotion into song and into action. By creating THE HEART OF VIRGINIA campaign, Tommy has committed to help raise awareness of the need for expanded mental health services in the New River Valley, and across the state. Many People were deeply affected by this tragedy and will require long term mental health care. Police, Fire and Rescue, Medical Personal, as well as many residents in the New River Valley and surrounding regions will feel the psychological effects for years to come. We are establishing a fund to help support/develop group and individual treatment options to help cope with the long term effects of such a brutal and senseless attack on our community. Support us in showing the world what a wonderful community we live in, and why we are the Heart of Virginia. We hope to create an event that changes the way we, as Americans, deal with the escalation of violence and the deterioration of mental well-being in our country. And to show the world that this senseless tragedy will not pass quietly as one in a string of violent acts, but call for change. |
