2018 Winter Newsletter
Letter from the President
Dearest Community; Statistics show that the incidence of human trafficking is not only increasing, but that it’s reaching epidemic proportions. Ongoing news regarding sexual misconduct by people in leadership, powerful positions and in trusted roles with children is beyond disturbing. How do we combat such a huge problem in our culture? We start with awareness.
We are all on a learning curve to honor and respect each other as valuable human beings with the right to be healthy and well, and to respect each other’s boundaries and differences. Everyone has the right to say ‘yes’ to those things that are good for us and for society and ‘no’ to those that are not. Inappropriate sexual behavior is where we have to learn as a culture to say “NO”.
At ARM of Care we see firsthand the destructive, disastrous and horrifying effects of sexual abuse and exploitation. We see girls who have been chained to beds, boys who witnessed their mothers being trafficked, and young women who have been beaten both physically and emotionally. Pain is always the result, and the response to pain is as unique as the individual who experiences it.
I’m proud of the work we do, which at its core honors the individual. We give those who are in pain an opportunity to develop new ways to be in the world and in their own body.
Our work helps create new pathways for the brain, so the patterns of pain can diminish. We do this by engaging imaginations through art projects, engaging bodies through movement and stretching, and stimulating curiosity and interest through positive, pleasant activities and cultural events. Learning to cultivate interests and engage in them is part of the healing and empowerment process.
In Creativity and Care,
Harriette Heibel served on the ARM of Care board for 3 1/2 years. We have benefitted greatly from her abilities as an organizational development consultant helping us to run better from the inside out, just the same way we work with those we serve! Her strategic insight and forthright nature helped us learn and grow. Her care proved to be a great asset as she helped us work through challenges and glean from opportunities. She continues to advise us along the way with our needs and goals.
Kit King served with us for 2 years with great enthusiasm and ideas. Kit is retired after 38 years in our public school system and has taken that same love of serving and poured into helping us with our program goals. She has started programs in the community for abused and homeless women and children as well as volunteered for many local causes. She started this quarterly newsletter when she came aboard and has graciously offered to continue to enrich our lives with her buoyancy, generosity, joy, precision and creativity..
We ❤ and THANK our Donors and Volunteers!
Gary and Virginia Webber and family Lisa Delucchi Heidi Ellingson Nicole Padilla Sew Busy Ladies Walnut Creek Presbyterian Morning Light Ladies Danville Community Presbyterian Church PRECEPTS Ladies Group Hillside Covenant Church Hands on Volunteers: Colleen Shepherd, Kim Carroll, Karen Britz, Hal Beck, and Linda Ritz Temple Kol Emeth Sisterhood Sports Basement and the Wednesday Pilates Class Mary Bieler Guy and Kathy Wallrath Sydney Boreal and the 209 youth group Kendra Scott Jewelry in Walnut CreekWCPC Local Missions Team Share the Spirit East Bay Times Dr. Ashley Jones for Advisory Support Heather Michaels
