Creative Voices

Empowering women through creative expression. Developing communities of trust, support and encouragement for those often ignored, searching for a chance to be heard and to promote change. Through workshops in photography, Creative Voices helps women transcend cultural and geographic boundaries by speaking the universal language of human emotions and showing their realities.

Meet My Students

Sol Naciente Participants:

Lorena

Lorena has been at Sol Naciente since the beginning of November 2010. She came for suffering violence and is looking for a way to go on because she is fighting alone with her daughter. She is 26 years old. She does not have a job. She has lived through many abuses, but she continues to go forward cheerfully. 

Doris

  

Doris came from Peru one year ago because they didn’t have a place to live. The father of her children was in Buenos Aires. He promised her he’d get ahead but he lied. Her kids are with the father but he beats them. With Doris is only her daughter who is handicapped. She does not have a job, but she is a working woman. She only wants the opportunity to get ahead. 

Damiana


Damiana came to Buenos Aires from Formoso, Argentina - a northern province near the border of Paraguay. She has been here for 5 years in search of a better life because in the province work was scarce and there is a great amount of exploitation in labor there. She had a baby here, and she is doing very well. Damiana hopes to return to her province soon to buy her own house and be with all her family. 

Nazarena

 

Nazarena also joined Sol in the beginning of November 2010. She came for problems with abuse as well. She likes to share what she feels with the other women. She sometimes speaks English or French when she’s angry. She likes nature and principally the ocean. She has an initial tattoo that is the letter of the love of her life, and it is her trademark.

Sandra 

Sandra has been at in Sol for two years because she too suffered from drug addiction and is getting an operation on her hip. She has 3 kids and is fighting to succeed.

Silvina

Silvina was living on the streets due to drug addictions. She had been in rehab for 1 year when she returned to drugs and the streets. She came to Sol, which helped her improve her life, leave the drugs and recover her kids.

Marita

 

Marita has been at Sol for one year this September for circumstances that did not involve violence. She experienced a number of bad events in a row and stayed in the street. She’s saying in Sol until she can go home.

Vanessa 

Vanessa has been in Sol for one year. She is here with 3 kids for problems with violence. She pushes forward despite her problems and for her kids she is a fighter.

Maria


Maria has been in Sol for one year with her daughter who was 20 days old when she first arrived. She came here for her daughter. Her family didn’t give her support when she was pregnant. She worked for 8 years in the house of her aunt. Through a social worker, she works outside to help the kids at Sol by selling clothing. With the money she makes, she buys things needed to keep the place clean.  

Middle Way House Participant:

Diane

Diane came to Middle Way House in August 2009 under the supervision and encouragement of a social worker from the county in which she was living. She knew no one in Bloomington but came anyway in search of help. Diane had suffered abuse under her husband and wanted to escape the dangerous situation in search of improving her life and beginning anew.