Are you a sheltering tree?
March 15, 2018
This beautiful artwork is entitled Bridge of Hope. I am so grateful that nationally acclaimed artist Freiman Stoltzfus painted Bridge of Hope to commemorate our 30 years of ending homelessness! I think it is stunning! He will share more about the themes and inspiration for his painting at the Bridge of Hope National Gala on May 11, but what I see in this piece is a focus on the supportive nurture of others. I love the sheltering grove of trees, and the juxtaposition of darkness to light as the eye crosses the bridge.
Creating a bridge to relationships that nurture families facing homelessness is the very essence of Bridge of Hope. And it’s the key to providing trauma informed care. On 60 Minutes this past week, Oprah Winfrey referred to trauma informed care as a game-changer – a concept that is transforming how she approaches everything she does. According to Dr. Bruce Perry, an expert in childhood trauma, nurturing relationships make the difference between a difficult childhood and a traumatic childhood. Relationships that provide love and encouragement make all the difference.
Trauma informed care is about changing the question from “what is wrong with that person?” to “what happened to that person?” That change in perspective provides the chance for the person to be heard and begin to heal.
With hope for spring to come soon,
Edith Yoder
Executive Director