ST. JOSEPH, MICH. – Spectrum Health Lakeland and Krasl Art Center (KAC) are partnering to develop a pop-up art and wellness exhibit to help address the behavioral health challenges faced by community members in Southwest Michigan. The pop-up kiosk, which is currently in development by a team of KAC and Spectrum Health Lakeland staff, local artists, and regional creatives, is especially timely as the community faces the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of the program, based on the Trauma Resource Institute’s Community Resiliency Model®, is to increase understanding of mental health and destigmatize mental illness. Community members are invited to participate in hands-on, arts-based activities that provide opportunities to practice and build resiliency skills.
“I am proud of this collaboration, which is even more relevant given the emerging mental health challenges our community faces,” said Lynn Todman, PhD, executive director for population health, Spectrum Health Lakeland. “This collaboration between Krasl Art Center and Spectrum Health Lakeland will introduce hundreds of people to the community resiliency model and provide them with skills to build their personal resilience and the resilience of their family, friends and neighbors in these difficult and unprecedented times.”
“The art and wellness pop-up will offerthe opportunity to address real needswithin the community,” said Tami Miller, deputy director and curator, Krasl Art Center. “The power of art to strengthen and transform individuals and communities alike is well-documented; combining its strength with the expertise of the population health team at Spectrum Health Lakeland is an exciting partnership that truly blends two areas of expertise to affect meaningful change.”
Once built, the pop-up kiosk will be piloted at the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph public libraries, for approximately six weeks at each site during the summer and fall of 2020, pending regional health recommendations. For more information about the project, visit
krasl.org/art/art-and-wellness-pop-up
or email
[email protected]
