Mission

Believing everyone has a creative spirit, Claire's long-term goal is to help marginalized women gain inner strength by accessing their artistic side. A Buddhist and Frances Perkins Scholar, Claire's journey to scholarship began during her childhood in Barbados when she sought relief from the chaos of living under domestic violence. Claire uses her creative works, poetry, and informative writings to encourage women trauma survivors to utilize the arts for self-improvement. In the 1990s, standing at The Door of No Return in Senegal, where slaves last saw their homeland, she reaffirmed her purpose: to confront and overcome intergenerational trauma.

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Amaranthia Sepia feels it’s critical to use her voice to facilitate positive representation of marginalized women. As a Buddhist Black, invisibly disabled woman with C-PTSD and GAD, she highlights unconventional experiences through art. Returning to America after spending her childhood in Japan, Sepia was severely bullied. Creating works based on fond memories of Tokyo taught her the healing power of art. Since 13, she’s coordinated art events on anti-bullying advocacy, BLM, disability inclusion, and women’s mental health. Now 22, she provides marginalized women/femmes tools for utilizing their creativity to gain confidence to make a difference in their communities.

Meena-Serenity is a four-year-old white rescue cat who's fueled by cuddles, kisses, hugs, and playtime. She loves to race around the house and gallop while playing chase. She is Amaranthia's ESA, but Meena also deals with anxiety and PTSD symptoms. Meena and Amaranthia have the same birthday. Meena loves to sit in windows and often invites her Big Momma, Claire, to watch. Claire has to pretend she is excited about seeing nothing as Meena purrs contentedly while sitting on her stool. She loves to cuddle with Little Momma, Amaranthia under the blankets every morning.

Meena is a rescue we found online through Rutherford County Humane Society in 2019.