Juneteenth National Independence Day ART EXHIBIT
About Arte Sana (art heals)
Based in Dripping Springs Texas and co-founded by two former Texas Association Against Sexual Assault victim advocates in 2001, Arte Sana (art heals) is a national Latina-led nonprofit committed to ending sexual violence and other forms of gender-based aggressions, and engage marginalized communities as agents of change. For over 20 years Arte Sana has promoted capacity building, awareness, healing, and empowerment through bilingual professional training, community education, and the arts.
Arte Sana's very first event, the Corazón Lastimado: Healing the Wounded Heart sexual assault survivor art exhibit was displayed in Austin, Texas in 2001. That same year it was also offered online and has since been replicated across the country, including on college campuses and at state and national sexual assault conferences. In 2003, Arte Sana was one of four agencies showcased in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Training Network webcast “Sexual Violence Prevention: Building Leadership and Commitment to Underserved Communities.” In 2004, Arte Sana received recognition for its “outstanding leadership and commitment to the Healthy Border 2010” by the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission.
About the Dripping Springs Community - Empowering Positive Change group
Many of us initially joined this group in June during a pandemic, in response to the murder of George Floyd and ensuing revelations regarding racial injustice.
After the group faced possible dissolution in the midst of election turmoil and the attack on our nation's Capitol, a small group of women decided to continue our collaborative efforts via email. Upon realizing that our neighboring communities had drafted Black History Month proclamations, but that Dripping Springs had yet to do so, our group worked together to draft the first Dripping Springs Black History Month proclamation.
Our group reflects the diversity of our beautiful city, comprised of members who have lived in Dripping Springs and surrounding Hill Country cities anywhere from 2-27 years.
"I originally started this group because I felt alone. After the murder of George Floyd, I saw so much hate and racism being shared in local groups, and my sadness and anger with regards to what happened seemed like a minority opinion. With the addition of physical isolation due to the pandemic, I thought to myself, 'surely I can not be the only one feeling this way. Maybe if I create a community, I can find more local people like me.'
The original group grew fast, and it was so therapeutic for many of us to have a visual representation of like minds in our community. My hope that this community could start making a difference with positive action in Dripping Springs was alive!
But, as with most things on the internet, things were a little too good to be true, and people who had intentions of hurting people in our group found their way in. My initial reaction was to disband the group and move on, thinking perhaps it had served its purpose, but thankfully another member who has a bit more experience convinced me that there was hope and a way forward.
We started over, with a very small group of active individuals, and started doing the work that the group was always intended to do. In just a few short months, we had produced the first Black History Month proclamation in the history of our city. We worked hard and came together as a team, even though we have never had the opportunity to meet in person. I am so encouraged by the efforts of this amazing group of diverse individuals, and know that the sky is the limit when it comes to the positive change that we will affect in our beautiful city."
Founding group admin
Dripping Springs Community - Empowering Positive Change Proclamations
The 2021 Dripping Springs Black History Month Proclamation
The 2021 Pride Month Proclamation
The 2021 Juneteenth Proclamation