The Center for Grace-Full Living, formerly the parsonage of Amazing Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, was established in 2006 to be a place in the community where people can find help in managing their lives more effectively through programs and ministries. While the center is the hub for food distribution via the food pantry and produce drops coordinated by Rev. Carol L. Perlie, she also advocates defining other characteristics in the community that needs to be addressed such as poverty, substance abuse, unemployment, proliferation of mental health issues, racism, lack of trust, and generational trauma, etc. which permeates stress which is exacerbated by pervasive violence.
SOZA A.R.T.S. introduced a ceremonial compent in the church’s Sunday mass where Pastor Carol sang and some of the other members did some spoken words and all the participants shared their art works. We also invited the community to part-take in a monoprint workshop. It was truly received well and SOZA A.R.T.S.’ participants were blessed with many beautiful graces from their community member.The second exhibition by SOZA A.R.T.S. was in 2014. It became part of the New Day Campaign – Where Stigma Ends, Healing Begins where we were asked to be part of a huge exhibition that opened doors to connect with many grass root organizations. It became a citywide campaign. It was an honor to be part of such an endeavor for the project and myself. We had a year to plan and Peter Brunn (Founder of the New Day Campaign) gave me the opportunity and trusted me to curate the show. Hence, I invited the members of SOZA A.R.T.S. in this artistic journey.