Blooming names: nature-based art therapy and poetry honoring Black lives

Abstract

Background Systemic racism in America has led to widespread racial stress and disenfranchised grief among Black communities. Two art therapists organised a community-based art therapy initiative aimed to address this grief and promote social change.Context Blooming Names took place in 2020 in Miami, FL, and provided Black families with poetry, art, and floral arranging workshops to process grief and honour loved ones lost to gun violence. These workshops culminated in public floral installations in Opa Locka and Liberty City, raising awareness of systemic racism and violence.Approach Integrating nature-based, decolonial, intersectional, and culturally humble frameworks, the initiative aimed to address systemic racism and violence through poetry, art, and floral design workshops. The project centred around public floral installations, which served as spaces for collective grief while advocating for systemic change and social justice.Outcomes The initiative needed more systematic user feedback. Collaborators expanded Blooming Names with additional workshops and trauma-informed training for K-12 teachers on gun violence.Conclusion Addressing the mental health effects of violence-related grief requires a collaborative effort from mental health professionals, community stakeholders, institutions, and society as a whole. Supporting community-based initiatives like Blooming Names is crucial for providing inclusive and accessible care across diverse communities.Implications for research Addressing the impacts of gun violence and systemic racism demands time and collaboration. Further research is needed on disenfranchised grief and the effectiveness of nature-based art therapy within Black communities.Plain-language summary Blooming Names, an art therapy initiative in Miami, Florida, aimed to address the need for community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing impacts of gun violence and police brutality on Black individuals. Spearheaded by two art therapists collaborating with local organisations and artists, the project utilised culturally competent frameworks to provide poetry, art, and nature-based workshops that supported disenfranchised grief and fostered personal and communal expression. Grounded in these frameworks, the initiative aimed to honour and integrate diverse cultural perspectives, empowering participants while advocating for systemic change. The project culminated in two public floral installations in historically segregated neighbourhoods, Opa Locka and Liberty City, symbolising resistance, remembrance, and resilience. Blooming Names sought to raise awareness of systemic racism and violence, reduce stigma, and promote education and advocacy, serving as a powerful catalyst for deeper community engagement and social justice.

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