National Model Domestic Violence Program & Rape Crisis Shelter

The Brain Extravaganza! is being launched in Bloomington, Indiana, on April 28, 2012!

I invite you to go experience the MWH Brain located in the Food Court at the Mall from now through October 15th. I designed the brain to reflect the heart/brain connection, visually interpreting the words, healing, empowerment, strength and independence. You can look inside this brain and see a large heart in the center with energy in the form of many LED light beams radiating out from it to the interior side of the brain. And as additional fiber optic light beams each touch the fiberglass interior of the brain, they meet a small opening that lets the pulsing light broadcast to the outside. This message —expressed symbolically through pulsing waves of light—is that the heart communicates intentionally with the brain. The visual idea is to suggest if we change our heart our mind will follow. For example, an injured individual recovering from abuse, whether it’s physical or emotional in nature requires courage and strength not only to survive, but to transform and emerge empowered. Through the transformative process of personal work over time, a human heart can experience recovery. As individuals develop within themselves they emerge stronger, free to express their own voice and change their world. On the brain’s exterior, the gold leaf bursts in the midst of the indigo background are to suggest that once we release our thoughts to the outer world we contribute the energy of our ideas in shaping the Universe.

Since creating this artwork I have read that modern neuroscience has discovered that the heart is the major center of intelligence in human beings and the responses that it makes affect the entire human system including the brain. When we listen to and follow our heart intelligence, we become more educated, balanced and understanding.

by - Merridee LaMantia

 

The Bandana Project Exhibition

The Bandana ProjectThe Bandana Project, on display from May 22 to July 22, at El Norteno restaurant at 206 North Walnut, started as a project of Esperanza: The Immigrant Women's Legal Initiative of the Southern Poverty Law Center in June 2007. Elizabeth A. Lopez of Middle Way House and Leah Fithian, Senior Social Work Intern, organized the project in Bloomington and timed its official opening to coincide with the First Friday Gallery Walk on June 1 from 5 to 8pm. The Bandana Project is designed to provoke a conversation about workplace sexual violence and sexual harassment against women and men through a public display of white bandanas "decorated" with words of encouragement for victims, motivational statements, and inspirational art. Originally designed in solidarity with migrant women farmworkers, the project has since reached out to embrace a broader set of victims in all types of workplaces. Project sponsors hope the display will highlight the importance of creating anti-harassment policies for businesses/agencies/organizations.

 

 

Summer Interns Needed for MWH Rooftop Garden Project!

The Middle Way House Rooftop Garden Initiative is looking for dedicated people to take part in a summer internship. People with interest in and experience with gardening, vermiculture, sustainability, urban agriculture, site and demonstration design, construction, education, photography, and journalism as well as anyone with a desire to learn about this wonderful project and rooftop gardening, in general, are strongly encouraged to apply. The un-paid internships will require approximately 5-7 hours each week. The dates for summer work are May 7th to August 27th. Please contact Garden Coordinator, Ricca Macklin, by email at richmack@imail.iu.edu to discuss the positions.

The rooftop garden is a demonstration project that combines an innovative approach to urban agriculture.  Youth engagement builds connections and partnerships with the community among young people who often feel alienated from their communities. The whole project is volunteer-driven. Extra special thanks to Garden Coordinators, Ricca Macklin and Andrea Jobe, and to Lauren Jobe for tending the worms in the basement as well as the garden on the roof.

 

Creative Voices for survivors

An outgrowth of a class project, Creative Voices the blog, is now available to support women who are survivors of domestic violence. The blog includes the writer's former student's images, classwork,  background history, information on violence, and multimedia formats of interviews she conducted with them.

Shelter Resident Tributes to MWH

"The time in shelter changed my life."
"You guys were the best - to me and for me."
"Everyone was very helpful through this new beginning."
"Thanks to staff - and the security cameras - I felt safe here."

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