A CEO behind a non-profit is often the driving force behind the business. As the CEO of Artists for Trauma, Laura Sharpe is more than the driving force —she is the living mission statement. Laura started the foundation after a personal tragedy and came to see a need for attuned rehabilitation efforts for survivors. She started AFT with the aim to expedite recovery through artistic expression and human connection by pairing civilian and military trauma survivors with established artists. Her non-profit specifically targeted loneliness during the pandemic, and now with vaccines rolling out and restrictions lessening, AFT’s calendar is back in full swing. We are so excited to share our interview with Laura Sharpe. Her story is inspirational and her cause is steeped in passionate purpose. For more on Laura Sharpe, AFT and how to get involved, please continue reading our exclusive interview below!

Where are you based?
Our executive offices are based in Marina del Rey, CA while the Artists For Trauma Day Retreat at RiskRock Studios is based in Thousand Oaks, CA.

We know that your non-profit Artists For Trauma (AFT) has a personal story behind it. Can you tell us more about your story?
I am a life altered trauma survivor turned thriver. In 2008 I and my family were in a tragic, explosive helicopter crash, three precious lives lost. My life and my family’s lives have never been the same. I’ve had to completely reinvent myself and still am. Art allowed me to transcend that new physical, mental and emotional reality and see beyond the destruction, disability, disfigurement and begin a slow new beginning.

What is AFT’s mission?
Artists For Trauma…where Recovery is an Art. Our signature aim is to expedite recovery through artistic expression and human connection. We provide FUN, adaptive, interactive, evidence-based healing through art, entertainment, and integrative health platforms for life altered trauma survivors.

For those who are unfamiliar with artistic rehabilitation, can you tell us what the process is like? What do survivors do and how does it affect them?
Through the process of creating, trying new things in a completely different yet positive way allows the trauma survivor to begin the process of reconnecting with their core self, their families, and their communities. AFT begins by cultivating a relationship with the trauma survivor through our confidential, best practice questionnaire. This allows us to get to know and honor the survivor, their challenges specifically and what art mediums speak to their heart and soul. All our art and entertainment platforms are inclusive. We invite our trauma community to engage in our scheduled diverse art workshops and entertainment venues.

We love that there is an art to healing and that art can heal. This is such a cool way of tapping into what it means to be human and thrive. When was the first time you realized that art had this potential?
Growing up, I recognized positivity and art had healing potential because music and dance would always activate or soothe my soul and various emotional states. I think all of us may personally related to this. Utilizing art for healing following life altering trauma took that concept to an entirely new level. Following my personal NDE experience of surviving an explosive tragic helicopter crash where three precious lives were lost. Soon thereafter six friends from diverse artistic disciplines collaborated with me on a healing through art journey utilizing, photography, film, sculpture, dance, and music. All original collaborative works of art based on medical materials from the first three years of my early recovery. Those friends and artistic interactions saved my sanity as I embarked on a new path to find how to live a new life. We had an art show titled “Re-Membered – Interpretations of Reconstruction”. Below is a quote from one of the six key artists: The brutality of Laura’s injuries and the artifacts of her trauma and medical treatment are used as subjects for photographs, material for painting, and a series of sculptures. “The idea was to take these brutal objects, which Laura had saved, and turn them into objects of beauty and symbols of recovery,” said artist Lagattuta. As a life altered trauma survivor, now thriver, I learned everything begins at the beginning, a new beginning with myself and others, often more than one. This perspective may help to keep one’s heart and mind open after their recent reality may have left them annihilated, requiring self-reinvention.

We know you offer a wide range of artistic mediums and approaches to art at AFT. Is there a crowd favorite?
I would say the crowd favorite appears to be interacting with our street artists like world renowned Kelly “Risk” Graval in painting a car simulator for in-patient rehab hospital California Rehabilitation Institute, interactive spray-painting murals, the result evolving into a community reflection of love, art, and positive messaging. The camaraderie of this fun environment creates active artistic engagement and human connection.

What does starting a non-profit look like on the nitty-gritty level?
It is sacred hard core sweat equity. For me, I was channeling gratitude, grace, purpose, and mission to establish the Artists For Trauma mission, vision, values, and goals. The language of Who We Are, What We Do, How We Do It and Who We Do It With.

What is something you never knew about being a CEO until you became one?
I learned a good CEO performs as a comprehensive, solid team player and while in this leadership role is the accountable party for taking full responsibility for the organization performance. When the organization is thriving celebrate the team members, when the organization is experiencing challenges take responsibility for it and find a solution that works for the team and the organization. Keep a learner’s mind front and center always, LISTEN to the board of directors, your team, and the trauma survivors. Manifest a strategy that serves the collective voices honoring our mission, vision, values and goals.

How has your sense of community changed since starting AFT?
I’ve learned none of us do anything alone. Artists For Trauma is a community organization of collaborators. Our gratitude for the artists and organizations we team with is immeasurable! Together, we provide compassionate, empowering, healing through art experiences and empowerment for the physical, mental, sexual, and emotional trauma survivor.

How has the pandemic affected AFT? Were you still able to do artistic rehabilitation virtually?
In March 2020, the pandemic completely halted all live, in-person healing through art events. We transitioned immediately into community support by networking and collaboration to provide facemasks as well as KN95 and medical grade facemasks. Artists For Trauma supported Ambassador, Lilian Raven, a beautiful burn survivor/thriver and fashion designer as she personally hand sewed 1,000 face masks. AFT, Lilian Raven Clothing, Karen Michelle and Sharpe Interior Systems collaborated by distributing 7,000 masks to 5 main Los Angeles shelters. We have continued to donate art supplies to all of them in 2021.

Have you gone back to in person work?
I have personally been in the office and in the field working the entire time, masked up in full PPE and now fully vaccinated.

You have a new initiative called the ‘Dear Loneliness’ project. What work is going into the initiative and what are your goals for ‘Dear Loneliness’?
The Dear Loneliness Project was created by three amazing, creative, conscientious, and talented young women: Jessica Lao of Harvard University, Class of 2023, her best friend, and her sister. All girls attend Harvard University. Artists For Trauma was contacted by them early into their “Dear Loneliness” project approximately late June, early July 2020. We offered mentorship, support, and participation to their “Dear Loneliness” cause and mission. Their project has now become an incredibly success international platform starting with a goal to write the world’s longest letter to Isolation. We offered to actively join them in outreach to raise awareness and educate that loneliness impacts, young, old, injured and fully abled bodies individuals. It seems to go hand in hand with life altering trauma and aging.

Like trauma, loneliness does not discriminate against color, gender, culture, race, sexual identification, sexual preferences, abled or disabled, rich or poor, young, or old. AFT also offered to assist in supporting an art gallery installation. We invite and encourage Jejeune readers to go to the Dear Loneliness site and send in a submittal message.

Jejune loves that you are able to address a broad issue like loneliness --it is often overlooked, especially in the age of social media. When did you realize that loneliness was something you wanted to combat?
I and our diverse Artists For Trauma communities know what a significant factor loneliness is in overcoming life altering trauma. Some never overcome it. It has always been and continues to be a significant factor of overcoming trauma. We will continue to address it through artistic engagement and human connection.

Your work with the military is also amazing. Sadly, negligence of veterans' health is a huge problem in our country. What can you tell us about how AFT meets the needs of officers and veterans?
Prior to the COVID19 pandemic AFT participated in large scale, live, healing through art events at various VA’s. AFT’s talented street art community assists us in interacting with the veterans and finishing the interactive spray-painted murals. We also highlight a very special friend and veteran, Josh O’Brien who continues to serve his country and fellow veterans through comedy. He can be found at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, Instagram and his Apple podcast, “CIVILIZATION”. His mission is to inform and entertain while mostly helping our brothers and sisters in the military.

What’s next for AFT?
We have an exciting 2021 planned and fully underway with our events and initiatives. Three big events to share with you are:

• Fundraiser for the Artists For Trauma Day Retreat at RiskRock Studios – August 28, 2021. AFT ADA Certified Design by Rachel Allen and the RADAR, Inc. team.

• Love Your Body Event on October 3, 2021, at The Luxe Hotel in Brentwood, CA. with AFT and Karen Michelle, featuring Artists in the Garden and world-renowned graffiti artist “Risk” and many others.

• AFT Art Installation at California Rehabilitation Institute in Century City, CA.

How have you been staying positive during shelter-in-place?
Empower others through Artists For Trauma Create art as much as possible. Support my artists friends Meditating Exercising THINK positive, creative thoughts. MANIFEST POSITIVITY Reach out to trusted friends when I’m not in my most positive creative mindset. Phone, Zoom, FaceTime, Instagram with friends and family.

What is your motto in life?
Creativity. Connectivity. Community.

To keep up with Artists For Trauma, please follow them via the below platforms:
www.artistsfortrauma.org
Instagram: @artistsfortrauma
Facebook: Artists For Trauma

There's Healing in Art - Laura Sharpe's Non-Profit Helps Trauma Survivors Thrive