An art community where creativity leads to healing

Our supportive workshops and community art programs create a nurturing environment where survivors discover their voice, engage in the creative process, and connect with others on similar healing journeys.

Our mission

Awakenings provides survivors of sexual violence with a trauma-informed, inclusive art-making experience that encourages healing.

A display pedestal labeled "Jean and Judith's Legacy" holds a binder with an abstract cover featuring blue and orange artwork.

Our history

Awakenings was born from a deeply personal journey of healing through artistic expression that continues to inspire survivors today.

  • 1998: Judith Dawn shared her heartfelt final wish with cousin Jean Cozier, asking her to help other survivors find healing through art, a path that had brought them both comfort and strength.
  • Early years: Jean took this mission to heart, personally funding art projects for survivors and thoughtfully gathering meaningful artwork created during their healing journeys.
  • 2010: The Awakenings gallery officially welcomed its first visitors, proudly displaying Jean’s growing collection of survivor art, including several of Judith’s cherished paintings that continue to touch hearts today.
  • 2016: after 3 years of helping Awakenings grow to help more survivors and right after the #MeToo movement began, Laura Kinter stepped into the role of Executive Director.
  • 2021: Awakenings conducted a year-long listening campaign with survivors and partner organizations alike to better understand how they could meet the community’s needs.
  • 2022: Driven by survivor feedback, Awakenings launched its cohort program, calendar of art workshops, and open studio time.
  • Today: Jean’s collection of survivor art still hangs on Awakenings’ walls, offering hope and inspiration to newcomers beginning their healing process through artistic expression.

Our values

We’re committed to creating a nurturing environment where the painful journey of trauma transforms into powerful healing through creative discovery.

Our community stands on these foundations:

A purple map pin icon with a teal shape resembling a stylized eye in the center, on a white circular background.

Inclusivity

We welcome survivors of all identities and experiences, recognizing that healing is not one-size-fits-all.

A stylized logo featuring a magenta teardrop shape with a white circle and a turquoise curved form inside, on a white background.

Survivor-leadership

Survivors guide our programs, shape our decisions, and remain at the center of everything we do.

A green map pin icon with a stylized blue and white eye in the center, set against a white circular background.

Healing Arts

We believe art is a powerful tool for processing trauma, expressing truth, and reclaiming voice.

Yellow and teal abstract shape resembling a stylized eye or droplet on a light gray circular background.

Safety

Our studio and the communities we create are rooted in care, consent, and trauma-informed practices for all who engage with us.

A stylized logo featuring a magenta teardrop shape with a white circle and a turquoise curved form inside, on a white background.

Recognition

We honor each survivor’s story, acknowledge systemic harm, and affirm the full humanity of our community.

A home for artistic discovery

Our light-filled studio welcomes every survivor with open arms, creating a peaceful space where your artistic expression can flourish without judgment.

Schedule a visit to see us

Meet our crew

Laura Kinter has long blonde hair and stands with their arms crossed, leaning against a wall, wearing a brown blazer and white shirt.

Laura Kinter

Executive Director

Jacqueline Valdez has black and red curly hair, and is smiling at the camera, wearing a black blouse with black lace sleeves.

Jacqueline Valdez

Programming Director

Jules Passell has curly brown hair, is in sunlight in front of ceramic pieces, and is smiling at the camera.

Jules Passell

Marketing & Development Manager

Wes Kendall is standing at a sunny window, smiling, and wearing a red polo shirt.

Wes Kendall

Studio Manager

Meet our teaching artists

Bryana Bibbs smiles while standing in front of a fiber arts piece with various colors and types of fabrics tied into bows. Bryana is a Black woman with a big smile and hair pulled back.

Bryana Bibbs

Gillian Marwood has a curly blonde bob, is wearing a red polka-dot dress, and holding a black cat while smiling at the camera.

Gillian Marwood

Leah Huskey has short dark hair and is wearing a striped, collard shirt while smiling at the camera.

Leah Huskey

A woman with long dark hair holds a black dog with white markings in front of framed artwork on a wall.

Saori Borrayo

Meet our board of directors

Christina Bourne is a Black woman with an afro, wearing a black top, and leaning her head on her hand while looking at the camera.

Christina Bourné

Board President

Woman with shoulder-length light brown hair smiles at the camera, wearing a white button-up shirt against a plain light background.

Sarah Wiseman

Board Secretary

Darci Flynn has curled brown hair, is wearing a red blouse under a black blazer, and is smiling while standing in front of a brown backdrop.

Darci Flynn

Deya Chatterjee has dark brown long hair, is wearing a dark green collared blouse, and is smiling at the camera while outside in a green space.

Deya Chatterjee

Gene Wagendorf is wearing glasses, a patterned collared shirt under a blue blazer, and is looking at the camera while standing in front of some foliage.

Gene Wagendorf

Nisha Kishore is seated in a chair in front of an office window, wearing a bright blue tie and green collared shirt while smiling at the camera.

Nisha Kishore

Geetho El Masri is standing with his arms crossed, leaning against a wall, and is wearing a sharp black suite, with a gray collared shirt, and maroon tie.

Geetho El Masri

Holley Bloomfield is a Black woman with curly hair wearing a black turtleneck under a collared blazer, smiling at the camera in front of a row of books.

Holley Bloomfield

Healing our communities through art

At Awakenings, we believe the healing power of artmaking grows stronger within a supportive creative community. By joining our dedicated network of therapists, crisis centers, universities, healthcare organizations, youth development programs, and more?” you become part of a movement that helps your community members transform trauma to triumph through art.

Get in touch

of our participants report increased confidence in their artistic ability
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Create, connect, & heal

Find your place in our circle of creators, where every artistic choice is valid and every emotion is welcome. Healing isn’t linear, nor a path you have to walk alone.

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