To the Editor:

For you, Newtown, I am first an art therapist and an educator. Next I am your neighbor living and working in New York City, as an artist and psychotherapist. I am compelled to share my gratitude with you as a community for being strong as a necessary healing process thrust upon you uninvited.

How I became interwoven into your town’s tapestry is a story of your kindness and human connection. As the Founder of the Emerald Sketch, I chose to respond to your requests and to take action immediately.

Heather Gunn-Riviera was my initial contact, when she established the Sandy Hook Healing Project on Simm Lane, after an initial call from a local friend, David Atkins, who was familiar with my specialization in early childhood trauma. It was his invitation that I first came to Sandy Hook. I arrived in Newtown on December 18th and by the following day had been appointed the Director of Child Therapy under Heather’s direction.

In the New Year of 2013 educational outreach began. Through the American Art Therapy Association, more local art therapists began interacting and a team of clinicians began to take shape. David Atkins and Virginia Hutch kindly opened their home as an art therapy venue. During these initial months CH Booth Library was generous in providing us with a consistent weekly space to host sessions. Grant money, work space, and support was generously provided by a variety of local organizations, principally the Newtown Memorial Fund, Lions Foundation, Ben’s Lighthouse, Trinity Church, Healing Newtown, Resiliency Center of Newtown and several others.

Many families joined us creating “safe boats” at the first Ben’s Lighthouse Festival, or adding to a giant “Birds Nest” at a Safe Places Open Studio among many other uplifting social gatherings.

Last December 13th, the Emerald Sketch hosted an art exhibition entitled “Safe Places” at the Hartford State Capitol. Our intention was to provide an educational activity as an option for anyone seeking a sense of community support. With activities throughout the day and evening, many Sandy Hook children, parents, and community members joined us. The attending children were able to visit the Supreme Court, meet Governor Malloy and the First Lady, while viewing their own works of art and making more.

This December 13th we are hosting an Emerald Sketch Art Gathering at Edmond Town Hall. The intention is to provide a comforting social atmosphere for relaxing, making art independently or with family/friends and viewing art created by your community members. A Children's Planning Committee of Emerald Sketch Artists from Sandy Hook School is forming and updates will be provided throughout this autumn. If you have interest in volunteering or your children want to be involved please contact me info@emeraldsketch.com.

For the opportunity to help those of you open to art therapy process your experience, I am forever grateful. You have demonstrated with compassion, humility, and acceptance, that helping one’s neighbors is a wonderful way to live.

Kindly,

Nicole Porter Willcox

28 Old Fulton St Apt 8J, Brooklyn, NY             November 19, 2014