Women in Recovery partnered with the Tulsa Artist Fellowship for its 23rd graduating class ceremony. Twenty-four women graduated at the Tuesday, March 27 ceremony, while a total of 28 women were awarded their well-earned certificates of completion distributed by District Court Judge Kelly Greenough.
“We are so proud of the hard work these women have put in to reach graduation,” said Mimi Tarrasch, executive director of Women in Recovery. “They have spent the past 18 months learning the skills necessary to succeed once they leave here. Partnering with the Tulsa Artist Fellowship has made the lead-up to graduation extra exciting with various programming that has helped the women use art to heal through trauma.”
TAF artist Cynthia Brown opened up her studio and hosted a painting workshop for a handful of the women, while literary artist Erik Ekstrand and Melanie Root taught poetry.
“Collaborating with Women in Recovery throughout the year has been a tremendous experience for TAF in so many ways,” said Julia White, program manager for the Tulsa Artist Fellowship. “It is always amazing to see what an impact the arts can have on an individual’s healing and growth. We feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of their journey in recovery.”
Ten of the women looked their best thanks to free hair styling and makeup offered by Clary Sage College, and all will be gifted special services as a way to honor their hard work and promote the importance of self-care.
“It means a lot because it’s a big day and an important day,” said graduate Candida Ulibarri. ”I have worked really hard and I looked beautiful from the inside and out and my art piece is yet another example of beauty and the amazing support we all receive through WIR’s partnerships.”
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About Women in Recovery
Women in Recovery (WIR) is an intensive outpatient alternative to incarceration for eligible women facing long-term prison sentences for non-violent drug-related offense. Operated in partnership with the George Kaiser Family Foundation, WIR works closely with the criminal justice system and various community partners to ensure program participants receive substance abuse and mental health treatment, supervisions, workforce readiness training and family reunification as an alternative to incarceration.
