In 2015 Swoon started working with Mural Arts' Restorative Justice Program to create 5 Stories, a program to help those struggling with substance abuse.  The program hosted a series of trauma-informed art therapy courses, followed by a month of storytelling workshops, designed to develop an understanding of the conditions and context of trauma that lead to and perpetuate lifelong addiction. With collaborators: artist and therapist Jessi Rado and storytellers Heather Box and Julian Mocine-McQueen.  

As part of these workshops Jessi Rado created her first zine: Everyday Healing Part 1, full of images and words to help everyone take a breath, reset, and move toward mindfulness.  The success of this zine has been incredible helping communities across Philadelphia.

Everyday Healing Part 2: Working with Trauma

We are pleased to now offer Part 2 of Everyday Healing: Working with Trauma. Jessi Rado has created this touching, deep-reaching zine as a resource for all on our pathway to healing. We are currently living in a time where we must creatively re-envision self care and wellness. As a therapist, Jessi believes that people have an innate ability to heal. Trauma is a complex and powerful condition that develops in the nervous system in response to a terrifying experience. It can be overwhelming yet it can be overcome once we become aware of its pattern and learn how to work through it. Access to the proper information and support is key in the journey to wellbeing and the Working with Trauma zine provides an easily accessible starter toolkit to people of all ages. Please download for yourself and we also encourage sharing the zine with anyone you know who you feel could use a lifeline.