Mental Health Partnership with the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants

“Through storytelling we are able to express and capture our roots, history, culture, and connectedness to our surroundings and each other. … Speaking our truth brings us and others healing and empowerment.” – Danny, Laos

Photo courtesy of CERI
A group of women sit on either side of a table full of art supplies. In the middle of the picture, at the head of the table, the leader of the workshop stands holding a photograph and scissors to make a collage of her own.
Photo courtesy of CERI
Photo courtesy of CERI
Photo courtesy of CERI

As immigrant communities in the US continue to face deep uncertainty and threats to their safety, Hesperian is highlighting the power of storytelling as a tool for community building and supporting well-being. Enabling immigrants to tell their own stories allows them to articulate personal truths on their own terms. In doing so, they not only redefine their own lives, but also build connections with others within and beyond their own communities.

“When we share something from our hearts it can be a hope for other people, so in that way we make a difference.” – Mona, Ethiopia

Hesperian recently partnered with local nonprofit the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI) to adapt artistic expression and storytelling methods for a special workshop with participants in the Center’s Wellness in Action Program, a workforce development effort that trains refugees and immigrants to provide practical mental health support and advocate for their communities.  

“I’m so happy because in this program every day when I come and see all of you and your stories, I feel like you are all my family.” – Marjan, Afghanistan 

Every Tuesday afternoon for eight weeks, community members met to play theater games, reflect on and share personal stories, develop story scripts and record voiceover audio, create art, and read and discuss selected content on stress and support group facilitation, from Hesperian’s newest book, Promoting Community Mental Health. In our final session, we screened videos produced from participants’ stories.

“When I share my story, I feel calm. When I hear other friends’ stories, I feel like yeah I’m not the only person suffering this problem. That’s good for mental health.” – Sabita, Nepal  

CERI plans to showcase the videos and host a panel discussion of storytellers at a private screening this spring, as a culminating event for this Wellness in Action cohort. Each participant received a hard copy of Promoting Community Mental Health to support them in mental health promotion and advocacy activities with their respective communities. 

Hesperian’s newest book, Promoting Community Mental Health, includes snapshots of how community organizations can use personal storytelling as a healing process, and way for diverse communities to come together, talk about their challenges, and honor and celebrate culture and tradition.