The After Trauma Empowerment Network (ATEN) is kindly asking local artists to create and donate a piece of artwork (painting, drawing, photo, digital) that captures and conveys your message of hope and encouragement to those who have experienced trauma. What is your message of hope & encouragement?

From the donated artwork we will create a 2022 Kindfulness Calendar to be used as a fundraiser for ATEN. We also will host an auction of the donated pieces as another fundraiser.

We encourage submissions from all cultures, genders, backgrounds, age, ability and mediums.

One submission per artist.

All entries must be the artist’s original, unpublished and previously unproduced work.

Using test/typography is allowed.

Picture size requirements: Minimum 8”x 8” – Maximum 12”x 12”. If you are not submitting your original work please submit a good quality photo (JPG, PNG or PDF) that is no larger than 2MB.

What’s in it for you: Be part of an important cause, help raise awareness about trauma, share your message of hope and encouragement, inspire someone, lift someone’s day, share your talent with others, gain exposure of your work, be published, and help raise funds to support those in the community who have experienced trauma.

We will be accepting artwork until April 30, 2021 (12:00am). We anticipate having the calendar ready for purchase by September 2021.

Remember to sign or initial your artwork.

Email submissions and questions to info@atenns.ca. Call 902-266-9763 to make arrangements if you are submitting an original piece of work.

​Please include with your submission:
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Title of Work:

We are reaching out to ask community members and Nova Scotians to submit a letter of support for an initiative called Project MAAT (Music & Art After Trauma) that we are currently working on. We require letters of support to accompany our funding application to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.

With great enthusiasm and excitement, Project MAAT will be a weekly online discussion forum featuring education (on trauma and mental health/illness), a topic for discussion (with a guest) combined with a music and/or art component.
 
We believe this is a unique and innovative way to reach the most amount of people given the current situation with the COVID 19 pandemic and social restrictions. Research has indicated the power of connection, music and art for people who are living with mental illness and trauma (this is evidence-based). We believe this project will be therapeutically beneficial for individuals and families living with the negative impact of trauma and mental illness since it will help with stress, anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, cognitive difficulties, reducing anxiety, reducing trauma symptoms, reducing sense of isolation, improving self-esteem and self-awareness, providing social connection and support, offer self-discovery, self-expression, and more. 

This forum will be hosted by Margaret Mauger (licensed therapist) and Vida Woodworth (Chairperson).

For your convenience, we have drafted a letter of support (file below) that you can simply print, sign, scan and email back to us. If you are an organization or business please consider using your letterhead. If you do not have a scanner please feel free to email a photo of your letter. Please add anything you like to the draft below or write your own letter of support if you prefer. We would greatly appreciate if you could please return your letter of support on or before January 20, 2021 to info@atenns.ca

Sincerest thanks and gratitude!

And the winner of the Nova Scotia Strong quilt is
Susan Harvey!
Congratulations!

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We would like to extend heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone who supported our first fundraiser and purchased tickets - we could not have done this without you! Together we raised over $3000 to go toward ATEN service delivery and administrative expenses.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Stay tuned for our next quilt fundraiser.

We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to you for supporting our cause and signing your name on our petition. Because of you we were able to reach a total of 304 signatures!!!

We have closed the petition and plan to submit the results with our funding application due October 31, 2020.

​Thank you for contributing! Your support is immensely appreciated!

Have an empowering day!

Trauma happens every day. Trauma can have a profound negative impact on a person's physical, psychological, mental and social health and well-being. We need a community-based non-profit organization in East Hants and surrounding areas to provide counselling, support, education and resources to individuals, families and communities affected by trauma. There is a high need to have this resource available.

East Hants and surrounding areas currently do not have a community-based non-profit organization for citizens and community members affected by trauma. There are long-wait times for mental health services in the province of Nova Scotia and there are limited resources for all gender survivors of trauma. We recognize the value and importance of having a trauma resource in our community for the citizens of East Hants and surrounding areas.

​The After Trauma Empowerment Network (ATEN)(www.atenns.ca) is a non-profit organization that currently provides professional counselling, support, education and resources to individuals, families and communities, in East Hants and surrounding areas, affected by trauma.

We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who support ATEN and urge our government leaders to provide financial assistance and annual operational funding to ATEN to be able to provide counselling, support, education and resources to individuals and families affected by trauma in East Hants and surrounding areas.

​https://thelaker.ca/n-s-strong-quilt-fundraiser-giving-newly-opened-shubenacadie-centre-a-boost/?fbclid=IwAR3L9u1RXjcGAZAUTRk9OuOVsIJUK1hEQbFBgRTPmaQksgbE20PH1xk62YY

​https://hubnow.ca/new-centre-in-shubenacadie-offering-services-support-for-those-whove-experienced-trauma/?fbclid=IwAR3KtgN3JIlgBQLAS3i7qiZgXRxVdXK1LrEOZGVMhbs1Vjy5UNo9xmYKWEQ

CBC News article - August 30, 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/quilt-raffle-nova-scotia-mass-shooting-1.5703982

CBC News program - August 31, 2020 (12:23-14:32)
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1783241795532