President Shawn handed the podium over to member Christina Smith today who came to share the incredible work she and her colleagues at Community Support Advocates are doing by uplifting the lives of others. Helping individuals and families connect and navigate the State of Iowa’s complex Medicare system is only a small part of what Community Support Advocates does. This dynamic organization partners with the people and families impacted by mental health disabilities and other challenges to foster growth and build resiliency within our community. In short, Community Support Advocates is helping people reach their potential.
Christina focused her talk on a single and exciting Community Support Advocates (CSA) program, Art Services (Momentum). (Momentum) puts the transformative power of art to work building and expanding a community of people overcoming challenge. Even that description does not fully capture the power of this program. The (Momentum) art studio, located in Mainframe Studios, is a nonprofit workspace for artists of all disciplines. Here, artists have a safe space to create with supplies and mentorship provided for free. The workshops and other opportunities offered at (Momentum) help those recovering from brain injury or living with a mental health diagnosis to build confidence, exercise their minds, hone new skills, and gain new friends all while creating works of art. By partnering with local artists, the CSA (Momentum) program is generating a greater understanding of how best to help people overcome a myriad of issues.
Christina Smith established a vision to use art to help people find their way to a healthier, more productive life through art over fifteen years ago. Thanks to her tenacity, hard work, and ability to inspire others, Christina is bringing significant change to Central Iowa every day. By focusing on the individual, Christina recognizes everyone’s path is unique, but she helped us see we are better when we help each other route the way forward together. Rotarians were thrilled to have an opportunity to hear from one of our own on such a beautiful Spring day.
As our Rotary year comes to a close this month, Christina’s presentation stands as an excellent reminder of the wonderful diversity of things members are doing to make life better for others. Thanks to Christina and her colleagues at Community Support Advocates for putting the Four-Way Test to action.
See you next Thursday at Rotary!